I question OWTU’s legitimacy

I clearly remember the days when OWTU consistently complained that international oil companies were virtual gold diggers taking the nation’s patrimony out of the country. Now it seems that only the oil workers are entitled to that patrimony. I need to remind the OWTU that the gas and oil belong to all of us. The Government is only the trustee of the country’s assets. The ongoing battle for more money, more benefits etc is not only between Petrotrin and its employees but also between those entities and the citizens.

And as a citizen with an interest in the outcome, I think a third party should be immediately employed to bring these negotiations to a satisfactory and equitable conclusion.

Meantime I would like the OWTU, if they dare, to publish the salaries of all their employees plus the benefits received alongside the new salaries and benefits now being proposed and let the nation judge. I am sure they will receive no sympathy from the 20 percent population below the poverty line!

I also remember the George Weekes days when all attempts by economists to show that outrageous salary demands in the oil boom days would lead to severe inflation were refuted as nonsense by the OWTU. Their predictions have come to pass however and therefore I am irritated when I see the same OWTU pretending to be defenders of the people by leading protests against high food prices. I question their legitimacy.

In closing may I say that I have this nagging suspicion that when workers are clamouring for higher salaries what they are in more urgent need of is counselling on managing their money and a learned responsibility on how to spend it.

We all need to realise that Play Whe and lottery are not investments and that drinking Johnny Walker Red as opposed to Black Label will not prevent cirrhosis of the liver.