Ex Caroni Minister call on Gov't for promised lands : CNC3

Ex Caroni Minister call on Gov't for promised lands
From : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkFZucNQmrk

Ex Caroni Minister call on Gov't for promised lands

From : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkFZucNQmrk

From : http://direct.cnc3.co.tt/content/ex-caroni-minister-call-govt-promised-lands

ATGWTU victorious in court

All Trinidad General Workers' Trade Union (ATGWTU) emerged victorious in the civil appeal against Rotiv Enterprises Ltd. on the 14th May, 2012 in the Court of appeal of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Union's case was conducted by advocate Attorney at Law, Mr. Dave Cowie, instructed by Attorney at law and Executive Member of the All Trinidad General Workers' Trade Union, Mr. Nirvan Maharaj.

President General of the ATGWTU stated: “It was a triumph once again by the Union for and on behalf of the working class citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.”

On June 10th, 2010, a judgment was made in the Industrial Court of Trinidad and Tobago where Rotiv Enterprises Ltd. was ordered to pay half a million dollars by 29th October, 2010 to 17 employees retrenched from the company in May, 2005. The company appealed the decision, which was heard in the Court of Appeal on Monday.

Orginal Link : http://www.ctntworld.com/LocalArticles.aspx?id=41342 

Union signs new Collective Agreement

The All Trinidad General Workers Trade Union (ATGWTU) and Seereeram Brothers Limited have completed a three-year new Collective Agreement.

The Agreement is for the period June 1st 2011 to May 31st 2014 with a 5% increase each year.

A statement from the Union said the workers will get: "A 15% wage increase plus consolidation of COLA at 60 cents, a new COLA of 20 cents per hour and increases in other areas."

The Union team was headed by Mr. John Jaglal while Mr. Joseph Maingot represented Seereeram Brothers Limited.

Link : http://www.ctntworld.com/LocalArticles.aspx?id=36168 

Call to Govt to expedite lands to ex-Caroni workers

Newsday : http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,150082.html 

By Richardson Dhalai Saturday, November 5 2011

Nine years following the closure of Caroni Limited, the All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union, (ATGWTU), has called on the Ministry of Food Production to expedite the distribution of one lot of residential lands to ex-Caroni workers.

In a media statement Thursday, ATGWTU ag president general, John Jaglal, expressed concern over the delay in the land distribution saying a number of ex-employees have already paid for their residential lots. 

“The Union is also concerned about the Government’s delay to begin the process of distribution of the one lot of residential purpose taking into consideration that approximately nine years have passed since the closure of Caroni (1975) Limited some of the employees have already paid in full for the said lots,” Jaglal stated. 

“In the circumstances, we call on the Minister to make a public pronouncement as it relates to the distribution process of the said one lot,” he added. 

Meanwhile, the union has noted that an extension has been granted by the Ministry for an extension to former Caroni employees to apply for the two-acre plots of agricultural lands which had been included in their VSEP package. 

“In a letter from the Ministry, signed by the permanent secretary, Ms Edwina Leacock, this extension has been granted until December 31, 2011. The letter further stated that only approximately 25 percent of applicants have had their applications processed to completion,” the Union stated. 

“In view of the above, the Union is calling on all members and other ex-employees to apply for, fulfil their requirements and complete the process to obtain their leases,” the Union concluded.

H.E.A.L. 's Chaitram Kapoor Rampersad receives National Award

Article : http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/_Mom_rescued__car_thieves_flee-129201098.html

Also receiving a Humming Bird Medal (Bronze) was community and social activist Chaitram Kapoor Rampersad who is the co-ordinator of HEAL—a drug rehabilitation centre at Couva.

Rampersad said he has dedicated the last 38 years of his life to community service.

He is one of the founding members of HEAL which has been in existence since 1990.

"It was a joint venture programme between Caroni (1975) Ltd and the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers' Trade Union," Rampersad said.

"At that time there were a lot of drug-related and alcohol-related incidents in Caroni so the union and the company came together to come up with a solution to the problem.

There was no industrial policy that would assist workers who were found under the influence and had incidents of drug and alcohol related accidents and so on. They used to be fired and suspended. So we decided to create a programme that would assist the employees instead of them being suspended or fired."

Rampersad said the programme was heavily subscribed and very soon even members of the community, who were not employed at Caroni, started showing up at the centre.

"At that time, from the banks of the Caroni River right down to South, there were no rehabilitation centres. There were no facilities to treat alcoholics and drug addicts. So because of the need, we had to extend the services to the rest of the national community."

To date, we have had more than 2,000 clients pass through the residential programme while approximately 700 to 1,000 clients have been enrolled in the outpatient programme."

Rampersad said the nongovernmental organisation, at Milton Road, Milton Village, Couva, receives an annual subvention from Government but he says it is woefully inadequate.

"The building we are using is one of Caroni's old bungalows which is almost 100 years old. The building is in great need of expansion and repairs."

Rampersad said the award he received is a tribute to all the men and women who continue to work in the field of drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

Speedy burial for ex-union leader

By Keino Swamber South Bureau 
Story Created: Jul 11, 2011 at 11:40 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jul 11, 2011 at 11:40 PM ECT 

HOURS after he passed away early yesterday morning, former trade union leader Boysie Moore Jones was laid to rest.

Moore-Jones served as president general of the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers' Trade Union (ATSGWTU) from 1995, when then leader Basdeo Panday became prime minister, to 1999.
Less than one month ago, 74-year-old Moore Jones was honoured by the Ministry of Labour and Cipriani College for his contribution to trade unionism.

Curtis Khan, Moore-Jones's eldest son, told the Express his father was diagnosed with prostate cancer about 12 years ago and underwent open-heart surgery about six years ago. He was also diabetic and suffered with hypertension.

Following a viewing of the body at the family's home at Diamond Village, Moore Jones's body was taken to the nearby mosque where he worshipped.

In attendance were Labour Minister and former president of the OWTU, Errol Mc Leod; Minister in the Ministry of Local Government, Rudranath Indarsingh, who succeeded Moore-Jones as president of the ATSGWTU; Vincent Cabrera, president of the Banking, Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU), and Panday.

Indarsingh said Moore Jones played an important role in his development as a trade unionist.
"While I am saddened, I take great comfort in knowing that Boysie Moore Jones made a great contribution in transforming the lives of thousands of citizens of this country and in improving their quality of life and their standard of living," he said.

McLeod said Moore Jones, although small in stature, stood tall among men in the struggle for peace, bread and justice.

Cabrera described Moore Jones as "very unassuming" and "one of the most effective trade unionists I knew. He was very quiet but he got the job done".
Moore Jones leaves to mourn his wife, Rosa Moore-Jones, and sons Curtis, Chris and Cliff Khan. He was buried at the Diamond Village cemetery.

Link : http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Speedy_burial_for_ex-union_leader-125392948.html