00:00A bulletin dated November 4th issued by the Port of Port of Spain to its
00:04stakeholders and customers explained that the port was experiencing an
00:08interruption in all areas of its operations due to an unplanned absence
00:13of the full complement of labor. Chairman of the Port Authority Lyle Alexander
00:18elaborates. The morning shift that turned up for work withheld their labor
00:25when once they got in and did not provide the labor required to discharge
00:33some vehicles from a car boat that we have alongside and also some of two
00:42other vessels requiring discharging of containers. Alexander says the impact to
00:50the port's operations was significant. Other areas were impacted in terms of
00:54doing deliveries of containers so we had to close the gate at one stage
01:00today as well. Weeks ago when the workers downed tools, the Port Authority was
01:06forced to rely on the services of the TNT Defense Force to offload a cargo
01:11vessel Asian Trust as it ran the risk of significant delay at its next port of
01:16coal. Did that happen at all today? No it did not, no it did not. And the
01:21circumstances in this occasion were slightly different and as such that
01:27response was not necessary at this time. The Port Authority states that it is
01:32concerned that the situation has reached a point where it is adversely affecting
01:37the economy. President of the Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union Michael
01:42Anasset continues to accuse the port of making unilateral changes citing the
01:47implementation of the signing of a disclosure form prior to receiving
01:51promotional notices. Another issue raised by the SWWTU surrounds wages
01:57where a 12% increase was agreed to but has not materialized. Anasset makes a
02:03comparison using gantry operators who are responsible for taking containers
02:08off of vessels and loading them onto tractor trucks. A trainee in the Point
02:15Lisa's Port is getting much more money than that of a register worker in the Port of
02:22Waterspain. Obviously that is a fundamental breach of the question of
02:29equal rights and equal pay and remuneration. Convention 100. The SWWTU
02:39also represents employees at the Point Lisa's Port. Anasset states that while
02:44workers at the Port of Port of Spain are prepared to collaborate in the interest
02:48of all at stake they are drawing the line. We are not prepared to roll over
02:54and die and allow management or the government to do us anything that they
03:00want to. TV6 News has soared the port's perspective on the SWWTU's claims that
03:06the authority is failing to fulfill its obligations and honor its commitments
03:11amid the ongoing industrial action and dialogue. Is there a breakdown at this
03:16point in terms of the talks between the union and the Port Authority? The discussions are
03:25really based on the CPO's position and the union's position. The discussions are
03:37taking place based on guidance from the CPO. Asked if the Port has requested intervention
03:44from its line minister Rohan Sinanan, the Minister of Works and Transport,
03:48and whether he believes it is needed. Alexander responds. I won't comment on any
03:55intervention or none by the minister. I'm aware that the minister is aware of what is taking
03:59place and whenever he chooses to intervene he will. Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
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