POS PORT WORKERS PROTEST

CCNTV6

Workers at the Port of Spain Port continue to vent their frustration. On Friday, they took their industrial action to the workplace on Dock Road, where they reiterated several concerns, including wages. Here's Alicia Boucher with more in this report.

Transcript

00:00While workers at the Port of Spain have returned to work today, however, they are staging what

00:06they call a peaceful demonstration.

00:09You might remember that for the past two consecutive days, being Wednesday and Thursday, they were

00:14actually at the SWWTU Hall, affecting a number of operations at the port.

00:21The picketing of the port was done during the workers' lunch break in the blistering

00:24midday heat.

00:26One of the issues is that they are working on 2013 salaries, which Secretary of the Daily

00:31Paid Branch of the Seamen and Waterfront Workers' Union, Wendell Goodridge, says is unacceptable.

00:38With the high food prices, and in order to take care of their families, their sons, their

00:43daughters, we have a number of single parents here with three, four, five children, and

00:47it is very difficult for them to keep up with the high food prices.

00:50Goodridge claims that among other things they want addressed is a lack of proper washrooms

00:56changing rooms and lock of facilities.

00:58We have a number of health and safety concerns.

01:02We have a number of concerns pertaining to defective equipment that we operate and we

01:08try, because we also have Children Island Tobago at heart.

01:12Kevin Allen tells us he has worked at the port for just over 30 years, joining a line

01:17of other family members.

01:19From his standpoint, workers are justified in the actions taken.

01:23When oppression, pauperization and advantage becomes the norm, resistance becomes necessary.

01:30And is that how you feel poor workers are being treated?

01:32That is not how we feel, that is how we know.

01:35Wade Ambrose is retired, but he is standing in solidarity with the workers, who he says

01:40run a highly essential service.

01:42The government does not mention anything of what they intend to do with the port.

01:47Budget come, budget go, no mention of the port, and this is highly disrespectful.

01:51So what's the reason for their decision to return to their workplace?

01:55I don't think the workers' intent is to cause any discomfort to Trinidad and Tobago.

02:01But at the end of the day, it turns around to the workers.

02:06We wouldn't like to cause a discomfort, but a discomfort is being caused unto us.

02:10Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.

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