Take your platform and go

He noted bpTT’s statement on Angelin’s fabrication, statements made during Thursday’s post-Cabinet news conference and comments by La Brea MP Nicole Olivierre on this issue. Asked if the OWTU or the labour movement feels responsible for bpTT’s pull-out, Roget replied, “Absolutely not!”

Declaring that no one should use the current economic situation to disadvantage workers, Roget added, “Take your platform and go! We are not prepared to have any type of construction in an environment that is unsafe, unhealthy and void of good industrial relations practice.”

He said BP, as a multinational, cannot take a hands off approach and allow local contractors to, “Do as they please.” He said the union is prepared to send that message internationally. Adding that while JTUM welcomes any investment into TT, “We support it on the basis that they are committing to adhering to every single one of our laws.”

Predicting there will be more protests and yesterday’s action was a signal that the labour movement is mobilising, Roget declared, “We are not going to relent because BP pulled out. There will be more BPs pulling out, over and over again because we are not prepared to relent, unless and until they get the message.”

After he claimed that BP is holding the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) to ransom, Roget warned Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley that his administration is walking down, “A Kamla (Persad-Bissessar) road.” He threatened, “If he did not learn from the mistakes that she committed, the same consequences would apply.”

Hinting the labour movement would make, “A critical announcement”, either on May Day or Labour Day, Roget said, “We are not prepared to eat PNM and bread...we will defend the bread of all of the workers in this country.” Communications Workers Union (CWU) President Joseph Remy and TT Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) President Lynsley Doodhai, supported Roget’s position as they articulated the concerns of their respective unions on other matters.

Doodhai claimed Government has refused to act on the concerns of teachers at the St Madeleine School. He said this issue has spanned, “two different governments, two different ministers and we have no end in sight.” He alleged certain Education Ministry officials were culpable for that situation. Remy reiterated that Government continues to disrespect the CWU with respect to a decision to close down the Tourism Development Company.