News

Joint Trade Unions of Trinidad and Tobago were forced to hold yet another public meeting indoors at the Point Fortin Town Hall on Saturday 19th November 2011 as the State of Emergency continues in the country.



The State of Emergency was declared by the People’s Partnership Government on 22nd August 2011, reportedly to deal with a serious “crime situation”. A restrictive curfew was imposed on citizens for over 10 weeks. The curfew hours were eventually reduced and only recently removed. To date all persons arrested during the SOE have been released due to a “lack of evidence” with the exception a few curfew breakers.



The Joint Trade Union Movement including UNI affiliates BIGWU, CWU and TTPWU and led by the Energy Sector Union OWTU, continue to insist that the situation clearly demonstrates that the S.O.E has been declared to suppress the ongoing mobilization and public protest action being mounted by the Unions against the State imposition of a 5% cap on all Public sector wage negotiations among other serious national and labour issues.



The current People’s Partnership Government won the last national election in May 2010 with very strategic support coming from the labour movement and gave an “election platform” commitment to action on labour issues of serious concern highlighted by the Trade Union movement.



The unions contend that a serious imposition upon the basic human rights and specific Trade Union rights is being perpetrated in Trinidad and Tobago in a bid to suppress any meaningful opposition to the actions of the Government taken against the national public interest and workers welfare in general.



Unions charge that this is a frivolous and seriously oppressive abuse of privilege of the State to use a State of Emergency in such a manner and have called for its immediate termination. A National Petition is being circulated by the Trade Union movement in this regard and will be presented to the Government at the sitting of Parliament which meets to consider the extension/cessation of the SOE on 5th December 2011.



In the picture: BIGWU President Vincent Cabrera speaks on the Human and Trade Unions Rights infringements of the State of Emergency existing in Trinidad and Tobago.