We want we money now!

Byline Author: 

Shaliza Hassanali

Article Date: 

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Sacked Bel Air workers demand:

Tempers flared among sacked workers of Bel Air International Airport Hotel as a meeting between the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers Trade Union (ATSGWTU) and the management of the hotel to discuss outstanding salaries and severance benefits failed to get off the ground.

Tempers flared among sacked workers of Bel Air International Airport Hotel as a meeting between the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers Trade Union (ATSGWTU) and the management of the hotel to discuss outstanding salaries and severance benefits failed to get off the ground.

Standing in front of the hotel’s closed gates in Piarco last Thursday and shouting, “We want we money now,” the workers, flanked by ATSGWU first vice president John Jaglal and general secretary Anand Tiwari, have vowed to step up protest action until they are paid their $3,422, 277.87 in severance benefits and $64,000 in outstanding salaries. The workers received their last pay packets on June 15. The severance benefits the union has proposed for the workers range from $1,650 to $310,432.50.

On August 20, 40 permanent staff workers were thrown on the breadline after the 56 air-conditioned room hotel, which operated for almost six decades became insolvent. The workers did not receive letters informing them of the company’s insolvency and closure.
Speaking on behalf of the workers, attorney and ATSGWTU’s consultant and advisor Nirvan Maharaj explained that a meeting was carded for September 23 between the union and hotel’s management to settle all outstanding debts. When they showed up at Bel Air, however, they were faced with a locked gate. The hotel’s owner and chairman Robert Boos had rescheduled the meeting for September 29, which caused tempers to flare, as many felt they were being taken for a ride. “We are being taken for fools. This is unacceptable,” shouted a visibly upset Dookran Butchoon, who said that his children were struggling to survive because he had nothing to fall back on.

While Butchoon gave vent to his feelings, other workers shook the chained gate violently as a means of airing their frustration.
“There is no doubt that Bel Air has treated the workers, many of whom gave over 45 years of dedicated service unfairly and with contempt today,” said Maharaj. Maharaj said though the meeting did not materialise, the process of dialogue was far from over. Admitting that the workers’ backs were now against a wall since many owed banks and were unable to pay their bills, Maharaj said the union had since taken the workers’ plight to the Industrial Court and to the Ministry of Labour because the hotel is in breach of the terms and conditions of the Collective Agreement. “We are optimistic that if this matter goes before the Industrial Court the workers will get what is due to them based on the circumstances upon which they were sent home.”

http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/news/general/2010/09/26/we-want-we-money-now

PSA calls for public solidarity against TTRA

Newsday : http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,118086.html

By Richardson Dhalai Sunday, March 28 2010

On the eve of his senatorial debut, temporary Opposition Senator Christopher Joefield, vice-president of the Public Services Association (PSA) made an impassioned appeal for the public to assemble outside the Parliament in a show of solidarity as he leads the Opposition’s response to the Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority (TTRA).

Speaking at the “Voice of the People” rally at Saith Park, Chaguanas, Joefield also affirmed the union’s support for the rally which was organised by the Leader of the Opposition’s office saying the union was fully supportive of the efforts to unify the population on national issues. 

“We believe this effort will go a long way in changing the quality of life and service delivery to the citizens of this country and the PSA supports the efforts that we see here today,” he said. 

However, in a precursor of his address in the Senate, Joefield accused the Government, which he described as “the employer”, of attempting top destroy the labour movement and privatise the Public Service. 

“There are dedicated officers who continue to work diligently while suffering in silence while the employer is starving the Public Service of resources, both human and infrastructure, and is using contract employment and making public servants insecure,” Joefield said. 

“Vacancies are not filled, the system is being abused, workers are becoming demoralised and the wider effect is that of weakening of the trade union movement and we are calling on the government to stop privatising the Public Service,” he added. 

‘We are saying that the government must empower the Service Commissions so they can train public officers and we call for better relations between the employer and the union,” he added. 

“On March 29th we are asking for your support to turn back this draconian Bill and throw it in the dustbin,” Joefield added. 

Meanwhile, fellow labour leader, All Trinidad General Workers Trade Union, (ATGWTU), Rudy Indarsingh, also added his voice to the call for a national show of support for the PSA’s struggle for the BIR and Customs and Excise workers saying, “come Monday, we must assemble outside the Parliament and show our support for the PSA.” “We must ensure a decent work agenda for Trinidad and Tobago which is signatory. Over the last ten years, this government has only brought one piece of legislation; where are the amendments to the Industrial Relations Act, where are the amendments to the Retrenchment and Benefits Act,” he added. 

Indarsingh also reiterated that Government had failed to provide an acceptable explanation to the closure of the Usine Ste Madeleine refinery saying the company had realised a profit in its operations over the past few years. 

‘They continue to attack the workers and have recently announced the decision to close the sugar factory and there has not been a single explanation as to why they would want to close a profitable company,” he added.

Indarsingh condemns workers’ dismissal

Newsday : Thursday, January 7th 2010

link : http://www.newsday.co.tt/business/0,113749.html

ALL Trinidad General Workers Trade Union (ATGWTU) president general Rudranath Indarsingh says the dismissal of 46 contracted workers at the Sugar Manufacturing Company Limited (SMCL) at Usine, Ste Madeleine, is “anti-worker and anti-union.”

In a statement, Indarsingh called on the Labour Ministry to investigate why the workers were dismissed and why the company and the contractor refused to re- employ the workers.

He believes the action comes after the workers sought his union’s intervention and applied to have the ATGWTU represent their interests.

Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday, who is also Honorary President of the union, in an interview yesterday said the dismissal of the workers was “indicative of the anti-worker stance by both the employer and the Government.”

“I warned them about what would happen if they took the VSEP but they did not listen to me then, because this Government does not care about them and their plan was always to get rid of the workers and the unions,’ he said.

An official at the SMCL said yesterday that the company only employed 23 workers while the 46 which were laid off were from the contractor Technical Maintenance Company (TMC), which was responsible for laying them off.

Efforts to reach SMCL chief executive officer Chandra Bobart and TMC boss Christopher Paul proved futile.

Bitter-sweet $400M gift

Newsday : http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,113051.html

By Clint Chan Tack and Richardson Dhalai Thursday, December 24 2009

GOVERNMENT yesterday gave former Caroni (1975) Limited workers an early Christmas gift by making $400 million available to Republic Bank to pay them their pensions. Minister in the Ministry of Finance Mariano Browne yesterday described this gift to the former sugar workers as all part of Government “maintaining the promise” which it made to them since Caroni was closed six years ago.

However, several former workers said they were still bitter over the payments which were due to them since 2003 and would only believe in Government’s gift when they get cheques in their hands. 

In a statement yesterday, Caroni CEO Deosaran Jagroo said Government had finalised the pension arrangements for an estimated 10,508 beneficiaries. He said Government is making $400 million available to Republic Bank to meet the cost of annuity purchases. This process is expected to be completed by March 31, 2010. 

Republic Bank purchased annuities effective July 1, 2008 from Clico to secure the benefits payable to approximately 7,651 former daily-paid Caroni workers. Resources were placed into a separate reserve fund to be held by the bank to meet the annuity purchases of a further 2,857 daily paid former workers. The resources would remain in the fund and after seven years, would be wound up. The assets would be transferred to the Finance Ministry which would assume responsibility for meeting any legitimate claim. 

Jagroo said this was the culmination of intense collaboration and detailed verification exercises between Caroni; the insurer, Colonial Life Insurance Company (Clico); Republic Bank and actuary Bacon Woodrow and De Souza Limited. He added that Government and Caroni are confident that the guarantee arrangements that it put in place with Clico are “safe and sustainable.” 

In addition, 1,284 leases for agricultural lands will be given to former Caroni workers by January 31, 2010. In terms of residential lands promised to the ex-sugar workers, 2,042 offers have been made. Once accepted, the leases for these lands would be delivered to the former workers on or before March 31, 2010. 

Browne said the Government was simply living up to the pledge it made to the former workers regarding the shortfall in Caroni’s pension fund, agricultural and residential properties. “Government is doing what it said it would,” he stated. 

Former Caroni employee Ramesh Karpan, who was employed with the company for 32 years, is not buying into this promise and would only believe that ex-workers would be paid the sweetener pensions, “when I see the cheque in my hand. 

“This thing should have been paid since 2003 when they closed up the company or if they know they couldn’t make the full payments, then a little something each month until they pay it off. As it is, people dead before they could get their pensions,” he said. 

Karpan, who said he was also a union officer who had encouraged workers to contribute to the pension-plan, said former colleagues would now curse him whenever they spoke about the pension plan. 

“ One of them tell me he contribute twenty thousand to the plan and he can’t see that money. Every day is cuss whenever he see me,” he added. 

He also slammed Government for its inequitable treatment of workers in the distribution of residential lands saying they had been informed that they would have to pay between $3,000 and $4,000 for legal and other fees, and then would have to come up with a further $20,000 to $30,000 within 90 days if they were to access the lands. 

“And then on top of that, they are telling us that if we don’t build by a certain time, they will take back the lands,” he said. 

“It seems that they are putting things in place so that former sugar workers would not be able to get these lands and then they will tell the national community that they did all they could to help us,” he said. 

In full agreement was another ex-worker Soogrim Karpan, who was also employed for 32 years and described Caroni’s announcement as “ole talk” which had initially been used to entice workers to accept the 2003 VSEP package. 

“I wouldn’t believe that until I get that,” he said, adding, “You telling me that a big government who plan big summit in less than a year have to take six years to pay people who work for them,” he asked. Both men’s views were echoed by All Trinidad General Workers Trade Union (ATGWTU) president general Rudy Indarsingh who said wrangling between Government and the company had forestalled the pension plan payments for over six years. 

“This just goes to show that the closure of Caroni Limited was a rush job an they had no plans on how to pay the workers, give them their lands or set them up in new businesses,” he said. He also countered that some 18,000 lots had been transferred to the Estate Management Business Development for distribution and, to date, “not a single lot of land” had been distributed. 

At the signing ceremony for the Clico/Caroni pension plan at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain on May 15, this year, Finance Minister Karen Nunez-Tesheira said the new pension arrangements would bring “security and comfort to a significant number of former Caroni workers.” Apart from the systemic risk which Clico posed to the economy then, Nunez-Tesheira said Government intervened to provide liquidity support to Clico to protect the interests of pensioners and other investors such as the former Caroni workers.

Ramesh Karpan

Does Government understand economics?

By HERMAN ROOP DASS Monday, November 10 2008

Newsday : http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,89597.html

THE Government is behaving as if they do not understand economics and could repeat the mistakes of the past, according to UWI economist, Dr. Dhanayshar Mahabir.

“The way they have responded to the lowering global oil price could only be described as a foolish approach to the situation,” said Mahabir as he delivered the feature address during the 71 st anniversary celebrations of the All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union (ATGWTU) at Rienzi Complex, Mc Bean, Couva, on Saturday. 

During the function four members received awards for their contribution to the growth, stability and resourcefulness of the union over the years. 

The four awardees were : John Jaglal, Anand Tiwari, Sahadeo Seejore and Doobraj Ramroop. 

Mahabir said that the US Economy was feeling the pinch as already some ten million were out of employment, and by 2009 the figure should read 11 million. He stressed that Trinidad and Tobago would face a similar fate shortly. 

“Possibly there could be industrial unrest in our country,” he emphasised. 

He predicted that Trinidad and Tobago would lose some $5 billion during the next quarter as instead of collecting $40 billion they would receive $35 billion. 

“It would be an unpleasant surprise, and when this happens Government would be forced to cut back on expenditure,” Mahabir said. 

He explained that oil prices had now dipped to $60 US per barrel but this was “meaningless to our country.” 

Mahabir felt that the Government should be pumping extra cash into the Heritage and Stablisation Fund “instead of spending money as if they had won a lottery.” 

He was amazed to learn that Government’s spending had soared from $13 billion in 2001 to $52 billion in 2008, and predicted that “the real problem would arise when next year’s budget is presented and commodities remain as they are.” 

He pointed out that “revenues are expected to drop by a further five percent because of more falls in production and this would be coupled by oil companies seeking tax write-offs to compensate for dry wells and exploration.” 

He said that he admired Barack Obama, the US President Elect but was sympathetic that he had come at such a dismal time in the economic history of the US. 

“What a way to welcome him, but thank God he is technically competent,” he stressed. 

He told officials of the sugar union that despite unfavourable conditions of growth, they will survive. 

He said that every time there was a global recession the international economy becomes volatile. 

He felt that the manufacturing sector would continue to suffer in TT, but the agricultural sector would continue to perform even though it is dwindling. 

“As a conservative economist, we have been telling the Government to slow down and cut back and try to adjust,” he said.

UWI lecturer Dr. Dhanayshar Mahabir fixes the mike during his address at the 71st Annual Conference of the All Trinidad General Workers' Trade Union (ATGWTU) at Rienzi Complex, Mc Bean, Couva, 

Cabrera issues warning to media

Vincent Cabrera

Vincent Cabrera  : Freedom of expression in the media has been a hot topic this week, after Prime Minister Patrick Manning visited a radio station recently to complain about comments made during a newscast about a Government plan to raise the price of premium gas and promote CNG usage.

Now Banking, Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU) President General Vincent Cabrera is warning media workers that if they fail to join a union, do not expect to be defended when things go wrong.

Generally known as a plain-talking person, no matter the issue, the Union leader explained to the media why he kept quiet on the controversy surrounding Manning’s visit to the Boom 94.1FM radio station.

He was speaking at the 71st Annual Conference of the All Trinidad General Workers Trade Union (ATGWTU) in Couva on Saturday.

His comment followed an earlier remark on the same topic, by president general of the union, rudy indarsingh.

This year's conference examined what decent work means to unions and the general workforce.

On this note, Cabrera said all union members should make the Decent Work Agenda their main priority.

The Decent Work Agenda is being supported, not just by local unions, but by the International Labour Organisation as well.

Link : http://www.ctntworld.com/LocalArticles.aspx?id=4404

the 71st Annual Conference

the 71st Annual Conference of the All Trinidad General Workers Trade Union (ATGWTU)