What did you do for sugar workers, Rudy?

The issue being bandied about in the public domain arose as a result of letters served on employees of the ministry which indicated that the contracts of these workers will expire at the end of this month, hence their automatic termination if these contracts are not renewed.

Indarsingh is suggesting that the union leaders who represent these workers could make certain objections and prevent them from being retrenched.

Now, isn’t that double standards by the MP? He had the chance to do something but he didn’t raise a finger and allowed the entire sugar industry to crumble.

Indarsingh is advocating that the workers of the ministry concerned “have to buy food for their families” and have “mortgages to pay.” Didn’t sugar workers back then have similar commitments? That raises the point as to why Indarsingh, as leader of the trade union representing sugar workers at the time of the closure of the sugar industry, did not do the right thing and object, since he is against workers losing their jobs. He could have saved the jobs of the 9,000 plus workers of Caroni 1975 Ltd.

In Guyana, there was talk about the closure of the sugar industry recently. However, this was averted as a result of the objections and a solid case put forward by the trade union representing the majority of workers there.

Hats off also to Joseph Remy, the union leader representing workers in the Ministry of Tourism. He was successful in getting a court order preventing the restructuring of the ministry which may have meant the termination of some workers.

At least they have bought themselves some time in which to plan their next action.

Well done, union bosses.

I can’t say the same for the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers’ Trade Union.

WKS HOSEIN Chaguanas