US union boss on OWTU platform

TRINIDADIAN Roger Toussaint, who was responsible for leading the biggest strike ever in New York City last year is expected to deliver an address during the Labour Day celebrations in Fyzabad.

Toussaint, President of the Transport Workers Union Local 100 of New York City, arrived in the country on Saturday to attend the celebrations in Fyzabad and is expected to appear on an Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) platform at Charlie King Junction.

Toussaint was described by David Abdulah, President of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions (FITU), an umbrella of the OWTU, as an important individual in the US labour movement.

In December 2005, Toussaint led the strike action by the bus and subway workers which resulted in the complete shutdown of New York City’s transport service. Abdulah told Newsday that Toussaint is going to be one of the major attractions in this year’s Labour Day celebrations.

“This is going to be a major occasion for us. And we welcome Toussaint to Fyzabad to deliver his address,” Abdulah said.

This year, Labour Day celebrations will also include the celebration of the success of the local Soca Warriors.

Fyzabad MP, Chandresh Sharma, in an interview, said that the Soca Warriors, who were able to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, would be one of the highlights in the annual Labour Day celebrations today.

Labour Day celebrations is a main agenda that incorporates a march of all trade unions from Avocat Junction to Charlie King Junction, Fyzabad.

Following the march there will be a series of speeches from various trade unionists.