Public March on the 23/05/14

The President General of the All Trinidad General Workers Trade Union Mr. Nirvan Maharaj (Attorney-at Law) wishes to reiterate to the national community that though we support the issues articulated by the Joint Trade Union Movement such as the implementation of the workers agenda and labour reform we will not be taking part in the march on Friday the 23^rd day of May, 2014

1. The All Trinidad General Workers Trade Union will not take part in any March in which the People National Movement (P.N.M) is involved.

2. The People National Movement (P.N.M) shut down the Sugar Industry.

3. The People National Movement (P.N.M) refused and or neglected to implement the provisions of the Voluntary Separation Employment Programme (VSEP) Package in regards to lands for the Ex-Caroni workers.

4. The People National Movement (P.N.M) appealed the “Deyalsingh Judgement of 2007” which mandated that Ex-Caroni workers were to be given 2 Acres plots and residential lots.

5. The People National Movement (P.N.M) appealed the High Court Judgement thereby denying the Ex-Caroni workers their legitimate expectation, the P.N.M by its actions against the Ex- Caroni workers have created pain, hardship, misery and frustration among the Ex-Caroni workers who have been waiting for more than 10 years for their legal entitlement

6. In addition it is in our view that the People National Movement (P.N.M) is perhaps the most anti labour organisation this country has ever seen as defined by its actions in :

• Brutalizing workers in the bus workers strike of 1966
• The unleashing of tear gas, bullets and batons and the beating and brutalization of workers during the march for bread, peace and justice in 1975 (Bloody Tuesday).

A large percentage of who were the Caroni workers who were the fore front or the march.

7. The People National Movement (P.N.M) implementation of the industrialization Act which denied workers the right to protest and strike.

8. It is the All Trinidad General Workers Trade Union view that to march with the P.N.M will be a betrayal of those who would have given their blood, sweat and tears in fighting for the rights of the working class in years gone by, and as a matter of principle we will therefore not take part in the march.

Yours Sincerely,

__________________________________

Nirvan Maharaj

President General 

(A.T.G.W.T.U)