00:00It was the Public Service Association President Leroy Batiste to criticize the People's National
00:05Movement and ask if it's time for trade unions to engage in meaningful discussions with the
00:12opposition United National Congress.
00:15But it would be the JATOM President Ansel Roche to answer.
00:19This afternoon, on behalf of the entire trade union movement, I wish to announce right here
00:27in Faizabad, at this historic Charlie King Junction, that in the coming weeks, with the
00:38exception of TUTOR, Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association, with the exception of
00:45TUTOR, and any other apolitical trade union, with the exception of them, we in the trade
00:55union movement, we have agreed to meet with all opposing forces and all political parties,
01:01including the United National Congress.
01:04But what do the individual unions think?
01:08We reached out to them, and 8 out of the 14 members of JATOM say they are apolitical and
01:15prefer not to lobby support for any political party.
01:19TUTOR indicated from the very beginning it is apolitical, as cited by Roche during the
01:24speech, its President Martin Lumpkin reinforced the position.
01:28The General Secretary of the Amalgamated Workers Union, Cassandra Tommy-Dabrow, says while
01:33they did not get a chance to meet with their union's executive after Labor Day, she made
01:39it clear their union strived to stay clear from any political affiliation.
01:44Derek Richardson of the Estate Police Association says they had no prior knowledge of what was
01:49going to be proposed, but in any event, they do not engage in politics.
01:55We are such one of those apolitical parties, so we do not engage in preferring one party
02:05against the other.
02:06As a matter of fact, if we have to venture any political opinion, it will have to be
02:13with the blessings of our membership.
02:17The Prison Service echoes similar sentiments, adding it will support who supports them.
02:24The Prison Officers Association of Trinidad and Tobago doesn't support any political party.
02:36What we support are people who support workers.
02:42If that so happens to be some political entity, it's all well and good, but we stay clear
02:52of political affiliations and getting into the back and forth.
03:00The Industrial and Sanitation Workers Union says having members on both sides of the political
03:05divide, they prefer to remain apolitical.
03:09Meanwhile, Eddie Stewart of the TNT National Nursing Association says the struggle is real,
03:15but it will not be telling its members who to vote for.
03:19There are a number of organizations within JATOM who, by their constitution, are apolitical.
03:29So while JATOM, the Umbrella Body, may have taken a decision, those Umbrella groups like
03:34TUTOR and Nigerian-Tobago National Nursing Association are apolitical and we do not and
03:43will not be endorsing any political party.
03:47Omain Dambik of the Contractors and General Workers Union represents mostly daily paid
03:52workers at the San Fernando City Corporation who have been offered a 4% increase and living
03:59on 2013 salaries.
04:01They've also been denied COLA, but...
04:05My membership is made up of both UNC and PNM.
04:13I will look to say half, half, right?
04:17But to say that my membership is totally unsupportive, I cannot say that.
04:24I will say a percentage of my membership is unsupportive.
04:28But there are also those who are throwing support behind the JATOM president's move,
04:33like David Forbes, who represents postal workers.
04:36Our position is very clear that if there's any organization in Trinidad and Tobago that
04:44is pro-workers issues, we will support that political vehicle.
04:50Keon Guy of the Fire Service Association says you can just look around and see how workers'
04:55rights have diminished over time.
04:58It is the duty of the politician to ensure that they are able to convince every citizen
05:06of this country that they are indeed entitled to their vote.
05:11So far, the present administration, led by Dr. Keith Rowley, has demonstrated to lever.
05:17The Farmers Union have been left without a choice, but one thing has to be ensured.
05:23We've got to come because signing agreements with them before didn't work.
05:27We have to look for some more solid way to come for them to commit, working with the
05:33treaty unions and be benefited.
05:35When it comes to ACOWU, General Secretary Rudy Atwell is in full support.
05:40Because of the posturing and not meeting and treating with negotiations with ACOWU, which
05:49is a recognized majority union, that has caused a lot of suffering for the workers.
05:57OWTU, of which Roger is also the president general, supports the meeting with the opposition
06:03and we could not reach Big Woo.
06:06Unions we spoke with said they were not aware of any resolution or vote being taken prior
06:12to JATOM's announcement on Wednesday.
06:14Arvishi Tamwari, Rupan Rai, TV6 News.
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