By Elizabeth Gonzales (T&T Guardian)- President of the Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union Michael Annisette has warned that workers at the Scarborough Port are prepared to strike again if promises to have unresolved issues fixed are not kept.
Speaking to Guardian Media after Tuesday’s protest over health and safety and the retrenchment of 14 employees who reportedly raised poor working condition concerns, Annisette clarified that while the Scarborough protest was not directly linked to workers’ action at the Port of Port-of-Spain, it was sparked by the layoff of workers who raised similar complaints.
He added that a commitment had been made to reach an amicable solution, but if an agreement is not achieved, operations at the Scarborough Port could be disrupted in the coming days.
He said, “The workers took the decision on the basis of that commitment they will return, but with the clear understanding that they are not prepared to accept, like in the past where they agreed to address a matter and it continues unabated and there is no implementation of the division arrived at with good faith.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Tobago Chamber, Curtis Williams, is calling on the port to have the issues resolved.
He worries these protests will harm the already fragile economy.
He said, “Come meet with the necessary representatives of the unions and discuss the way forward so that we don’t have this problem. It’s Christmas time. Now is the time everybody want to stock up; November is the time we stock up for Christmas.”
Port Authority chairman Lyle Alexander told Guardian Media the protest may have affected operations yesterday.
“If people don’t work, there may have been. I don’t know how it would have been impacted; I don’t have the details. I know the vessels ran as usual. I don’t know if anything may have happened at the sheds. I don’t have a report on that impact.
“Things are not fully back to normal today. There were some operations affected today, but most of them have been going on.”
Meanwhile, Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan told Guardian Media the board and management are dealing with those issues at the moment.
