Thousands turn out for Labour Day rally

Both the Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGOs (Fitun) and the National Trade Union Centre (Natuc) staged separate rallies at Charlie King Junction — the birthplace of the labour movement.

For the second year, the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) held its own march and rally at its own location — Fyzabad Composite School.

Trinidad-born New York-based Transport Workers’ Union president Roger Toussaint did not miss out on the opportunity to rally for a united trade union leadership.

Toussaint, who shut down the underground New York transit system with a strike recently, and was sentenced to ten days in jail, called for a “united and militant” labour movement.

A guest of Fitun for the Labour Day celebrations, Toussaint delivered the feature address at Charlie King Junction, Fyzabad.

Toussaint, who leads a 38,000 strong union in New York, told thousands of workers that only a “united and determined” trade union movement could force Government to utilise the nation’s vast energy of wealth for the benefit of the poor and working class.

Wearing a light-blue shirt, a sombre Toussaint said in spite of the billions of dollars flowing through the nation’s coffers, there was a “coldness” and an air of “desperation and hopelessness” on the face of youths in Trinidad and Tobago.

“The fight in Trinidad and Tobago is the fight over the distribution of the nation’s wealth. The problem in Trinidad and Tobago is not about the lack of wealth, but it is about the abundance of wealth,” Toussaint said.

Yesterday’s march began with the ceremonial laying of wreaths at the tomb of the labour movement’s founding father — Tubal Uriah “Buzz” Butler. McLeod, Toussaint, Fitun president David Abdulah and visiting Cuban delegate Yenielys Regueiferos, also laid wreaths.

Thousands gathered at Avocat Junction for the annual procession from as early as 9 am.

Oil workers in dark blue took the lead by the hundreds. Members of the Public Services Association dressed in green. The Communications Workers Union, in grey, trekked behind amid a large police presence. By 11 am, thousands were marching, each respective union echoing with banners, placards and loudspeakers — labour unity, exploitation of workers. The current impasse in the health sector and Petrotrin were the highlight of the Fitun-led march.

TTUTA’s union members assembled at Avocat and followed. However, they did not join the Charlie King Junction rally, but proceeded to Fyzabad Composite School where they held their own rally.

The unions under the umbrella body — Natuc — kicked off their march right after. They included the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers’ Trade Union; Banking Insurance General Workers’ Trade Union; National Union of Government and Federated Workers; Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union; Contractors and General Workers Trade Union.

On reaching Charlie King Junction where the Fitun rally was in progress, hundreds of workers veered right instead of joining the rally there. They held their own rally in front of the Fyzabad Police Station.

Not to be outdone was the newly-formed Sheep and Goat Association. Led by president Shiraz Khan, scores of farmers assembled in the Fitun rally. Khan decried the predicament of the nation’s farmers, saying there had not been an increase in the price of fresh milk from farmers since 1997.

Wearing a green T-shirt proclaiming “Proud to be a farmer,” he said if better prices are not forthcoming soon, farmers would respond “with our goats and sheep” in Port-of-Spain.

His words were echoed by OWTU president general, Errol McLeod, who pledged to join the farmers in their “animal farm” protest in Port-of-Spain.