BY ADRIAN BOODAN
http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2007-12-17/news5.html
FORMER Caroni (1975) Ltd workers are entitled to free agricultural and housing land, says Ramesh Maharaj, head of the T&T Civil Rights Association and the MP for Tabaquite.
Maharaj was addressing former sugar workers who attended a special meeting of the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers’ Trade Union at Rienzi Complex, Couva, yesterday, to discuss the ruling of Justice Lennox Deyalsingh.
The Supreme Court judge ordered the Government to hand over leases to the ex-sugar workers by June 2008.
The Government had earlier announced that the residential land was being sold for $20,000 to $30,000 a lot.
Maharaj said part of the VSEP package, which workers accepted when Caroni folded as a sugar producer in 2003, was the promise of land. He said, however, that nowhere in the agreement was it stated that workers would have to pay for the land.
Maharaj said all workers should be entitled to residential land regardless if they own property or not. He said to deny any former sugar worker that right would be unfair.
Maharaj said if the Government intended to appeal the decision of the Supreme Court, he had plans to put legal and political pressure on them to the point where Prime Minister Patrick Manning and his Cabinet could be jailed for acting in contempt of court.
Maharaj said he intended to approach the Appeal Court and Privy Council to have these matters dealt with within a few months if the Government planned to appeal the judgment.
He said the Government intended to defraud sugar workers by transferring the land assets from Caroni (1975) Ltd to the State.
He said this would have put the union in a position where it could have got anything from Caroni (1975) Ltd if the ATSGWTU had gone to the Industrial Court.
Maharaj said the public statements made by Manning, John Rahael, a former minister of agriculture and Christine Sahadeo, former junior finance minister gave the assurance that Caroni workers would have the first priority to lands.
He said based on these statements, the matter was brought before the courts.
Maharaj said the workers could also legally block any individual or group outside the former sugar workers from grabbing Caroni lands before they get their leases.
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Monday, December 17, 2007
Monday, December 10, 2007
Sugar union to change name
Monday, December 10 2007
THE All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers’ Trade Union (ATSGWTU) has undergone a major transformation over the last four years with the closure of the sugar industry and having lost some 10,000 members.
“Because of a drop in revenue we had to implement a restructuring plan of our own and as a result we are now stabilised and there is now the need to focus on continued growth and development,” stated Rudranath Indarsingh, president.
At the time, Indarsingh was delivering the Presidential Address at the 70th Annual Conference of Delegates of the Union at Rienzi Complex, Mc Bean, Couva, on Saturday.
He said, “We must be innovative and understand that this is not for politicians and political parties alone.”
He felt that as a “union we must never lose focus of the core issues of grievance handling, collective bargaining, new trends in industrial relations, health and safety, national insurance, and HIV/Aids in the workplace.”
He told the conference that the time was fast approaching for a change of name of the union to the All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union, taking into consideration that there was no sugar industry in the country.
He was strong in his view that “labour legislation must be placed high on the agenda of this Government and more so to the new Minister of Labour, Small and Micro Enterprise Development, Rennie Dumas.”
He said that inflation was high in the country and the Government should have it reduced “so that workers do not lose the ability to purchase basic goods and services and that wage increase realised by Trade Unions is not lost.”
Friday, August 10, 2007
Union completes negotiations for blind
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,62140.html
http://mail.newsday.co.tt/business/0,62140.html
Friday, August 10 2007
THE All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers Trade Union (ATSGWTU) yesterday announced that it had successfully completed collective agreements on behalf of daily-rated employees of the Visually Impaired/Blind Welfare Association of Trinidad and Tobago, National Agro Chemicals Limited and the Daily Rated Employees of the Sugarcane Feed Centre.
In the case of the Blind Welfare Association, workers will receive a 15 percent wage increase over the next three years, improvements in Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) of 85 cents per hour on a daily basis and other fringe benefits (meal allowance, sick leave etc). This agreement is for the period January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2006.
For the period June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2008, National Agro Chemicals workers will benefit from an 11 percent increase, COLA improvements of $2,400 and other fringe benefits. The collective agreement for workers at the Sugarcane Feed Centre, provides for the implementation of a new grading and classification structure, resulting from a job evaluation exercise undertaken between the Chief Personnel Officer and the ATSGWTU and a COLA of $4 per day for each day worked for the same period.
http://mail.newsday.co.tt/business/0,62140.html
Friday, August 10 2007
THE All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers Trade Union (ATSGWTU) yesterday announced that it had successfully completed collective agreements on behalf of daily-rated employees of the Visually Impaired/Blind Welfare Association of Trinidad and Tobago, National Agro Chemicals Limited and the Daily Rated Employees of the Sugarcane Feed Centre.
In the case of the Blind Welfare Association, workers will receive a 15 percent wage increase over the next three years, improvements in Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) of 85 cents per hour on a daily basis and other fringe benefits (meal allowance, sick leave etc). This agreement is for the period January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2006.
For the period June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2008, National Agro Chemicals workers will benefit from an 11 percent increase, COLA improvements of $2,400 and other fringe benefits. The collective agreement for workers at the Sugarcane Feed Centre, provides for the implementation of a new grading and classification structure, resulting from a job evaluation exercise undertaken between the Chief Personnel Officer and the ATSGWTU and a COLA of $4 per day for each day worked for the same period.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Indarsingh: I told you so !
BY ADRIAN BOODAN
http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2006-03-28/business1.html
RUDY INDARSINGH, the president of the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers Trade Union (ATSGWTU), yesterday said his union had predicted the move to shut down the sugar industry since the closure of Caroni (1975) Limited in 2003.
He was responding to reports that Prime Minister patrick Manning told sugar cane farmers yesterday that this is the last year the Government would buy their canes, in effect shutting down the remnants of the country’s sugar industry.
Indarsingh said although came farming is family oriented, cane farmers have employed workers and other industries depend on cane farming.
He said, “6000 farmers may now be forced to find a new source of livelihood and this will impact on the people they employ and also the informal economy involved in the industry will suffer. Further to this unemployment would strike the cane haulage contractors.”
Referring to reports that the canefarmers themselves had suggested to the Prime Minister the closure of the industry, Indarsingh said, “I do not know if the position adopted by the cane farming community is designed to appease the government or embrace the PNM policy of inaction or continued discrimination towards the stakeholders.”
Indarsingh claimed the Sugar Manufacturing Company Limited (SMCL), the entity formed after the closure of Caroni, has proven to be failure because it was run by misfits.
Indarsingh charged the government may well be closing down the industry to pump funds into floating Cepep as a political arm of the PNM.
Indarsingh said yesterday’s move vindicated the position that the union took when it attempted to inform the national community and all its stakeholders in 2003 that the
government's policy was to close down the industry and not to pursue any strategy that was designed to ensure its growth and development.
He recalled that the Government told the national community when it established the SMCL that it would lead to an industry size of 75,000 tonnes of sugar a year and an expaned cane farming sector.
Indarsingh said, “Since then the government has not put in place any policies or strategies that facilitated the growth and expansion of the cane farming sector; the cane farming community was to bear the cost of the rural access road and agro chemicals and of course the management of SMCL and the board of the SMCL knew nothing about running a sugar mill or factory and as a result of this was in no position to improve the output at the factory.
http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2006-03-28/business1.html
RUDY INDARSINGH, the president of the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers Trade Union (ATSGWTU), yesterday said his union had predicted the move to shut down the sugar industry since the closure of Caroni (1975) Limited in 2003.
He was responding to reports that Prime Minister patrick Manning told sugar cane farmers yesterday that this is the last year the Government would buy their canes, in effect shutting down the remnants of the country’s sugar industry.
Indarsingh said although came farming is family oriented, cane farmers have employed workers and other industries depend on cane farming.
He said, “6000 farmers may now be forced to find a new source of livelihood and this will impact on the people they employ and also the informal economy involved in the industry will suffer. Further to this unemployment would strike the cane haulage contractors.”
Referring to reports that the canefarmers themselves had suggested to the Prime Minister the closure of the industry, Indarsingh said, “I do not know if the position adopted by the cane farming community is designed to appease the government or embrace the PNM policy of inaction or continued discrimination towards the stakeholders.”
Indarsingh claimed the Sugar Manufacturing Company Limited (SMCL), the entity formed after the closure of Caroni, has proven to be failure because it was run by misfits.
Indarsingh charged the government may well be closing down the industry to pump funds into floating Cepep as a political arm of the PNM.
Indarsingh said yesterday’s move vindicated the position that the union took when it attempted to inform the national community and all its stakeholders in 2003 that the
government's policy was to close down the industry and not to pursue any strategy that was designed to ensure its growth and development.
He recalled that the Government told the national community when it established the SMCL that it would lead to an industry size of 75,000 tonnes of sugar a year and an expaned cane farming sector.
Indarsingh said, “Since then the government has not put in place any policies or strategies that facilitated the growth and expansion of the cane farming sector; the cane farming community was to bear the cost of the rural access road and agro chemicals and of course the management of SMCL and the board of the SMCL knew nothing about running a sugar mill or factory and as a result of this was in no position to improve the output at the factory.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Narine promises probe into feeds centre accident
By Adrian Boodan
http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2006-10-12/news9.html
Minister of Agriculture Jarrette Narine has promised a full investigation into Tuesday’s accident in which a worker lost a leg at the Sugarcane Feeds Centre (SFC).
Tadil Hosein, of Main Road, Longdenville, was operating foraging equipment at the Pokhor Road, Longdenville, operations of the SFC when his leg got into the blades of the machine.
He was taken to the Chaguanas Health Centre and subsequently transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex at Mount Hope, where he underwent surgery on Tuesday night.
Following the mishap, the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers’ Trade Union (ATSGWTU), the body representing the 75 SFC employees, instructed union members to stop work until health and safety requirements at the centre were met.
Operations at the SFC were shut down yesterday, when representatives of the ATSGWTU met with Narine at the compound.
Rudy Indarsingh, head of the union, said the ATSGWTU would also be launching its own investigation into the mishap.
Indarsingh said Narine agreed to step up health and safety measures at the 30-year-old research facility and to look into the immediate appointment of a human resource officer to fill a post which has been vacant since the first quarter of this year.
Indarsingh said Hosein and his family would also be receiving counselling while the ATSGWTU would be calling on the SFC to pay his medical bills, as well as the cost of his rehabilitation.
Indarsingh said the union has proposed that the victim be fitted with an artificial limb.
As to the SFC’s 30th anniversary celebrations, Indarsingh said the ATSGWTU would not try to stop the activity at the SFC since the union is all about promoting the growth of T&T’s agricultural sector.
http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2006-10-12/news9.html
Minister of Agriculture Jarrette Narine has promised a full investigation into Tuesday’s accident in which a worker lost a leg at the Sugarcane Feeds Centre (SFC).
Tadil Hosein, of Main Road, Longdenville, was operating foraging equipment at the Pokhor Road, Longdenville, operations of the SFC when his leg got into the blades of the machine.
He was taken to the Chaguanas Health Centre and subsequently transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex at Mount Hope, where he underwent surgery on Tuesday night.
Following the mishap, the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers’ Trade Union (ATSGWTU), the body representing the 75 SFC employees, instructed union members to stop work until health and safety requirements at the centre were met.
Operations at the SFC were shut down yesterday, when representatives of the ATSGWTU met with Narine at the compound.
Rudy Indarsingh, head of the union, said the ATSGWTU would also be launching its own investigation into the mishap.
Indarsingh said Narine agreed to step up health and safety measures at the 30-year-old research facility and to look into the immediate appointment of a human resource officer to fill a post which has been vacant since the first quarter of this year.
Indarsingh said Hosein and his family would also be receiving counselling while the ATSGWTU would be calling on the SFC to pay his medical bills, as well as the cost of his rehabilitation.
Indarsingh said the union has proposed that the victim be fitted with an artificial limb.
As to the SFC’s 30th anniversary celebrations, Indarsingh said the ATSGWTU would not try to stop the activity at the SFC since the union is all about promoting the growth of T&T’s agricultural sector.
Monday, June 12, 2006
Call for child labour policy
Phoolo Danny-Maharaj South Bureau
Monday, June 12th 2006
THE All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers Trade Union (ATSGWTU) is calling on Government to elaborate on a clear and effective policy for the eradication and prevention of child labour in Trinidad and Tobago.
World Day Against Child Labour is celebrated today.
Union president Rudranath Indarsingh is further demanding that Government define immediate action toward the urgent elimination of the worst forms of child labour, according to the ILO Conventions 138 and 182.
He said Government, through the Ministries of Social Development and National Security, must ensure that the children of the country are protected and not be forced into activities such as human trafficking, prostitution, pornography, or illegal activities.
Reflecting on the recent criminal abuse that caused the death of Sean Luke and Amy Emily Anamanthudo.
Indarsingh said Government policies must be appreciated and supported by all the social actors, such as workers, employers and non-governmental organisations.
Monday, June 12th 2006
THE All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers Trade Union (ATSGWTU) is calling on Government to elaborate on a clear and effective policy for the eradication and prevention of child labour in Trinidad and Tobago.
World Day Against Child Labour is celebrated today.
Union president Rudranath Indarsingh is further demanding that Government define immediate action toward the urgent elimination of the worst forms of child labour, according to the ILO Conventions 138 and 182.
He said Government, through the Ministries of Social Development and National Security, must ensure that the children of the country are protected and not be forced into activities such as human trafficking, prostitution, pornography, or illegal activities.
Reflecting on the recent criminal abuse that caused the death of Sean Luke and Amy Emily Anamanthudo.
Indarsingh said Government policies must be appreciated and supported by all the social actors, such as workers, employers and non-governmental organisations.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Heavy rains delay sugar crop
By Leah Mathura-Dookhoo
http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2006-01-17/business3.html
The sugar cane season, which was supposed to begin yesterday, has been put on hold for another week, owing to bad weather and floods over the past month.
Yesterday, CEO of the Sugar Manufacturing Company Ltd (SMCL) Andre Guyadeen said the situation is worse than in years past, as fields are now saturated with water.
Guyadeen said while next Monday has been set for the start of the crop season by the SMCL, officials from the Sugar Industry Team (SIT) are monitoring the situation.
“This weather had caused us a lot of losses, but we are hoping we will make up for it in April,” Guyadeen said.
He refused to state the monetary extent of those losses.
Guyadeen said staffers, farmers and contractors were gearing up for a bumper season yesterday morning, however the heavy floods in central and south Trinidad lead to the postponement.
“The ground could take no more water. We are hopeful that things will get better next week,” he said.
Public relations officer of the Trinidad Islandwide Cane Farmers Association (TICFA) Lallan Rajaram, said yesterday that he too was disappointed over the delay in the start of the crop as farmers were the ones losing out financially.
Rajaram explained that even though the season did not start on its stipulated date, transport contractors and SMCL employees were protected by a guarantee agreement which will see them receive their monthly salaries.
But this is not the same for farmers.
“The last time a farmer got a cheque from SMCL was in August. With that money he had to take care of this family, his crop and his equipment. So, you see the problems they are in,” Rajaram said.
“Cane farmers have been waiting for the longest while for the start of the season, now with changing weather patterns they have to wait longer. The whole thing about sugar is that it needs dry weather.”
Rajaram remains doubtful that the season will begin in the next two weeks.
He said it was because of this TICFA submitted a written proposal to Agriculture Minister Jarrette Narine on Wednesday calling for an increase in the price of cane per tonne.
He said this was done in an effort to assist farmers who have suffered great losses since the beginning of the year.
But, Rajaram said when the issue was brought up during a meeting on Friday with SIT led by Wayne Innis, his members were told that they were not aware that a proposal had been handed in for an increase in the price of cane.
Rajaram said while SMCL’s target for the year is 600,000 tonnes of canes which will produce 60,000 tonnes of sugar, he is doubtful that it will materialise.
“We have never reached that goal and with all the problems we’re having I don’t think it will happen.”
Realistically, he said, for 2006, farmers can produce 45,000 tonnes of sugar from 450,000 tonnes of cane.
At present, cane farmers receive $180 per tonne for canes sold to the SMCL. They are now calling for $218.
Meanwhile, president general of the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers Trade Union, (ATSGWTU), Rudranath Indarsingh said the failure of the crop to begin came as no surprise, since the industry is run by a group of energy experts who have no background in agriculture.
http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2006-01-17/business3.html
The sugar cane season, which was supposed to begin yesterday, has been put on hold for another week, owing to bad weather and floods over the past month.
Yesterday, CEO of the Sugar Manufacturing Company Ltd (SMCL) Andre Guyadeen said the situation is worse than in years past, as fields are now saturated with water.
Guyadeen said while next Monday has been set for the start of the crop season by the SMCL, officials from the Sugar Industry Team (SIT) are monitoring the situation.
“This weather had caused us a lot of losses, but we are hoping we will make up for it in April,” Guyadeen said.
He refused to state the monetary extent of those losses.
Guyadeen said staffers, farmers and contractors were gearing up for a bumper season yesterday morning, however the heavy floods in central and south Trinidad lead to the postponement.
“The ground could take no more water. We are hopeful that things will get better next week,” he said.
Public relations officer of the Trinidad Islandwide Cane Farmers Association (TICFA) Lallan Rajaram, said yesterday that he too was disappointed over the delay in the start of the crop as farmers were the ones losing out financially.
Rajaram explained that even though the season did not start on its stipulated date, transport contractors and SMCL employees were protected by a guarantee agreement which will see them receive their monthly salaries.
But this is not the same for farmers.
“The last time a farmer got a cheque from SMCL was in August. With that money he had to take care of this family, his crop and his equipment. So, you see the problems they are in,” Rajaram said.
“Cane farmers have been waiting for the longest while for the start of the season, now with changing weather patterns they have to wait longer. The whole thing about sugar is that it needs dry weather.”
Rajaram remains doubtful that the season will begin in the next two weeks.
He said it was because of this TICFA submitted a written proposal to Agriculture Minister Jarrette Narine on Wednesday calling for an increase in the price of cane per tonne.
He said this was done in an effort to assist farmers who have suffered great losses since the beginning of the year.
But, Rajaram said when the issue was brought up during a meeting on Friday with SIT led by Wayne Innis, his members were told that they were not aware that a proposal had been handed in for an increase in the price of cane.
Rajaram said while SMCL’s target for the year is 600,000 tonnes of canes which will produce 60,000 tonnes of sugar, he is doubtful that it will materialise.
“We have never reached that goal and with all the problems we’re having I don’t think it will happen.”
Realistically, he said, for 2006, farmers can produce 45,000 tonnes of sugar from 450,000 tonnes of cane.
At present, cane farmers receive $180 per tonne for canes sold to the SMCL. They are now calling for $218.
Meanwhile, president general of the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers Trade Union, (ATSGWTU), Rudranath Indarsingh said the failure of the crop to begin came as no surprise, since the industry is run by a group of energy experts who have no background in agriculture.
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