00:00The hearing began at 1.30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Industrial Court at the end of
00:05which the injunction was obtained by the Port Authority. It requires port workers
00:10to return to work immediately following what has been weeks of ongoing but
00:15intermittent industrial action where employees repeatedly failed to show up
00:20for work. The PITT says that this has caused serious disruptions to shipping
00:24schedules, impacted port operations and hindered the timely delivery of goods
00:30and services to key local and regional stakeholders. The authority notes that a
00:35Christmas season which it calls a critical period is approaching and as
00:39such says the situation as it was posed a significant threat to businesses.
00:45Operations at a port of Port of Spain is said to account for 59% of the
00:51country's overall container volumes. PITT Chairman Lyle Alexander says quote
00:56we never wanted to take this action but we felt we had no choice. The workers
01:01have taken steps that threaten the port's operations and are affecting
01:05livelihoods. We have a duty to protect the interests of our stakeholders and
01:10the country end quote. The port states that the situation is unsustainable and
01:16detrimental to not only national but also regional interests. As it gives a
01:22commitment to take efforts to mitigate the impact the situation has caused, the
01:27PITT says it remains committed to dialogue to resolve the wage
01:30negotiation impasse and restore normalcy at the port. Fresh out of the courthouse
01:36President of the Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union Michael Anasset
01:40addressed the media. It's rather unfortunate that the port authority
01:48choose to go this route rather than meeting and treating with the union with
01:54the myriad of issues that are affecting the dock workers. But like every other
02:01thing the Seamen and Waterfront workers will respect the court judgment. At a
02:06time of the interview Anasset had not yet received the written order which he
02:10stated would outline the terms with more clarity. The SWWT has been given a
02:16date of December 6th to put forward its arguments. Because we haven't been given
02:21an opportunity obviously because the office was served only today at 946 and
02:30I only got winded of the information after 11 because I was involved in a
02:38meeting. Anasset maintains that the PITT has failed to engage in meaningful
02:42discussions which according to him will benefit the port and the country. And we
02:47will continue to advocate for a better port for Trinidad and Tobago, a more
02:52efficient port and we do believe that the frame of agreement was done in that
02:58spirit and therefore the whole better sense will prevail and the agreement
03:05and the principle of the agreement is allowed to be operationalized.
03:10Alicia Boucher TV6 News
Comments