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CCNTV6
  • 1 year ago
Port workers have downed tools for a second consecutive day over what their union says is a failure by management to honour an agreement that was signed in 2017.


We're told, if there isn't a meeting to address the concerns, it will be unfortunate.


On Wednesday, operations at the Port were affected in a number of areas.


Alicia Boucher has the details.
Transcript
00:00Workers at the Port Authority gathered at the Seamen and Waterfront Workers' Trade Union
00:05Hall on Ryerson Road for two days in a row.
00:09On Wednesday, the Port of Spain said vessel operations, Westgate operations, which are
00:14the receipt and delivery of full and empty containers, and the terminal loading and offloading
00:20operations were affected due to the unavailability of the full complement of labour.
00:26Well, SWWTU President Michael Anasset estimates that about 200 workers were off the job on
00:33Wednesday and then again on Thursday.
00:36The most I can do is sit down and listen to the workers, let them vent their feelings
00:41which they have been venting since yesterday, all six o'clock.
00:46Despite this, Anasset says he only had an informal conversation with a senior manager
00:51following what transpired.
00:53The union have not received any formal request to date to engage the management in any meaningful
01:02discussions to find a way.
01:05According to Anasset, the agreement signed in 2017 entailed a 12% wage increase for the
01:11period 2014 to 2017, a five- and seven-day shift system to save on overtime, reducing
01:18the gang sizes to meet international standards, and the training and certification of dock
01:24workers.
01:25The 12% would not have been a drain on the government treasury because the port continues
01:34to generate sufficient revenue in order to meet their salaries and wage commitments.
01:42We're told this includes the generation of foreign exchange.
01:46The priority concerns to be addressed, according to the SWWTU, are a lack of promotion, the
01:53non-confirmation of over 300 workers in their positions, and health and safety problems.
01:59As for the salary increases?
02:02That's a bread and butter issue.
02:04That is all I'm prepared to say.
02:07Because you cannot live and you cannot survive without bread.
02:13The union says it's not something to compromise on or play politics with, and if the port
02:19authority does not meet with the SWWTU, here's Anasset's response.
02:25It will be unfortunate, I must say, that if there is no meeting, it will demonstrate to
02:33me a lack of appreciation, a lack of sensitivity, and a lack of professional responsibility
02:41to the nation.
02:43And I will say no more.
02:45The SWWTU wants a collaborative approach to finding solutions to problems at the port,
02:51and Anasset tells us letters were to be sent on Thursday to several entities.
02:56We are willing to meet with all the stakeholders, the business communities, the armed domain,
03:02the manufacturing association, the armed chambers, whether it's salt, whether it's the energy,
03:07whatever it is, so that we could sit down and discuss the port.
03:13I also make a call on the minister of finance to meet and treat with the executive of the
03:19union, because we believe that the outstanding negotiations and what was negotiated in good
03:26faith stands in good stead for the interests of Trinidad and Tobago and also the port success.
03:37Alyssia Boucher, TV6 News.
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