Lead Editor-Politics
Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) secretary general Joanne Ogeer has issued a rallying cry to the country’s trade unions to break their silence and put political loyalties aside, warning that workers are being made to carry the burden of adjustment while thousands face job losses and mounting economic pressure.
Ogeer made the appeal during an interview with Guardian Media, as tensions continue between several unions and the Government, including the CWU’s ongoing dispute involving Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT).
She said the labour movement could not allow accusations of being aligned to either the People’s National Movement (PNM) or United National Congress (UNC) to distract it from its responsibility to defend workers, particularly at a time when people are losing their jobs and struggling with the cost of living.
“Unemployment don’t see red and yellow,” Ogeer said.
“When you have to pay your grocery bills, they don’t see UNC and PNM. So, at the end of the day, the trade union movement, all the workers of this country, [have] to bind forces and come together and defend it.”
Ogeer expressed concern about what she described as the “silence” of sections of the movement, saying now was the time for unions to remember their fundamental responsibility to workers.
“Now, more than ever, we have to put things, whatever promises are being made, whatever games that the Government is playing, we have to remember the oath that we took collectively to represent workers,” she said.
“So, now is the test of all time for everybody to join hands and come together and fight.”
She stressed that such unity should not be interpreted as a political campaign against the Government.
“It’s not about fighting the Government because the first thing they would say is, ‘I’m a PNM union and I’m a PNM union leader,’” she said.
“When persons are losing their jobs, it’s PNM and UNC losing their jobs.”
Ogeer said the CWU itself expects to face increased pressure from the Government because it remained independent during the general election campaign and was not part of the Coalition of Interests which supported the UNC.
“We are not part of the Coalition of Interests,” she said.
“We believe that we will be disadvantaged. We believe that we will be weaponised as an independent trade union.”
She accused Government of taking a hostile approach towards unions which dissent on national issues and specifically raised concerns about Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath’s approach amid the ongoing disputes involving the CWU and Public Services Association (PSA).
“We are of the firm opinion that Minister Padarath will use his weight as Minister of Public Utilities to now weaponise the CWU,” Ogeer said.
Guardian Media initially questioned Ogeer about recent statements by Padarath that the Government would not be intimidated amid the CWU’s dispute with TSTT and the controversy surrounding a disputed ten per cent wage increase.
However, Ogeer declined to go into detail, saying the union intends to lay out its full position at a media briefing tomorrow. She said “all will be revealed” then, including the CWU’s position and clarification surrounding the ten per cent wage increase.
The union has also taken issue with TSTT reminding workers of their status as essential employees amid the industrial relations tensions.
Ogeer questioned whether a similar approach was being taken towards protesting Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) workers represented by the PSA, noting those workers are also considered essential.
Despite the PSA’s own confrontation with the Government, Ogeer said she would not question the strategy being employed by PSA president Felicia Thomas and instead stood firmly behind the union and its workers.
“She’s a comrade and they are comrades and injustice to one is injustice to all. I stand in solidarity with the WASA workers and, of course, the comrades of Felicia Thomas.”
Ogeer said workers were increasingly finding themselves “at the end of the burden of adjustment” and argued that this made a united and vocal trade union movement more important than ever.
Asked about the apparent silence of some unions, Ogeer said, “Well, I don’t have sore throat, as you could tell. I don’t know who has sore throat, but I don’t have.”
