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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