00:00These workers and them reach a point where they are fed up, right?
00:06They have several dogs, right?
00:08Health and safety issues that the management and them refuse to address, right?
00:12We are asking for the line ministers and them to come and address the situation.
00:17The water situation, health and safety, the roof leaking, right?
00:23And all they want to do is just work, work, work, work, work, work.
00:27Mr. Tom said dogs and fowls have invaded the compound of the Scarborough Port
00:32and there are a number of health and safety concerns to the workers.
00:57You can't even get a raincoat.
00:58Look at the equipment that are everywhere.
01:01Look at me, look, look, look. I can't even have proper pants.
01:08Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union shop steward Felton Cox
01:14said there are also concerns about the warehouse on the port
01:17in addition to the emergency bell on the compound not functioning.
01:22There is also issue of the warehouse where that consignees and all has been
01:27boiling for the heat in the warehouse because there is no proper ventilation, right?
01:31They also have the air condition system in the warehouse that is pushing a lot of heat.
01:36There is also issues in the yard.
01:38The yard is not being cleaned or washed down on a daily basis, right?
01:42So that is hence the animals, which is the animal feces,
01:46you have to work in that environment, right?
01:49There is also issue on the carburettor where the carburettor is not being cleaned properly, right?
01:55And workers still have to think.
01:56Trucks have been parked close, right?
01:59We speak about all these issues and we take up with the management.
02:02There is also issues of the emergency bell in the call-on centre,
02:06which has not been addressed as yet.
02:08If something happens on the compound, no worker can get in time to get off the compound
02:13if there is a bomb scare or anything.
02:15Mr. Tom said workers do not want empty promises from management anymore.
02:20What we are asking for is just for the management and the ministers and them
02:25to meet with the union to be able to address this situation here.
02:28And we don't want that they meet with us to give us a comfort.
02:32We want to see action take place, right?
02:36That the workers and them could feel comfortable and safe to be able to work in this compound here.
02:42When TV6 contacted the chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Port Authority, Lye Alexander,
02:47he told us that there is a correlation to the protest action in Trinidad by port workers
02:53to the one taking place in Tobago.
02:56There is a relationship between what is taking place in Trinidad and what is taking place in Tobago.
03:01So the same reasons that they use for their actions in Trinidad
03:05more than likely will be mirrored in Tobago.
03:09What they are saying now is exactly what has been said among the workers in Trinidad.
03:17Are you aware of any health and safety concerns as I brought it to your attention?
03:21You are aware of this?
03:23Well, other than the reports or the excuses that they are using for their actions,
03:31I am not aware that the discussions that they would have had with the management included
03:40or there were any outstanding issues coming out of that.
03:43Let me put it that way.
03:45The issue of health and safety issues are issues that would come up from time to time.
03:50They bring to the attention of management and management would deal with it.
03:54The issues that they are claiming now, I am not aware that those are outstanding issues.
04:01Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
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