SWMCOL workers protest again

President of the Industrial General and Sanitation Workers Union Robert Benacia described the working condition for workers as “inhumane.” “They are putting workers at further risk of being poisoned because we have indiscriminate dumping of toxic materials in these landfills. Workers are amongst the most hazardous conditions in the country.” He said the condition at the landfill in not only affecting workers but the entire country because the dust blowing off the landfills contaminates Port-of-Spain and anywhere west of the landfill.

“We have hospital waste, industrial waste, radio waste, dead and decease animals coming in here, you name it, and that is mixing in with carbon materials and blows like dust.

They need to place landfill management as a priority. We need to hear about time lines and the plans and how they want to implement, how it is going to affect the SWMCOL and the workers, and funding provided.” Benacia said they are again calling on the Public Utility Minister Fitzgerald Hinds and Finance Minister Colm Imbert to settle all back pay immediately, and addressed the issues raised by the union.

The workers staged their first protest this week on Monday.