THE labour movement is alive in Trinidad and Tobago.
This is the statement of president general of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) Ancel Roget speaking at the wreath laying ceremony at the tomb of Uriah “Buzz” Butler on Saturday, Labour Day.
He said, “Today, 84 years later, the trade union movement is not dead. It is alive and this is testament that the trade union movement is alive.”
Speaking at the Fyzabad Public Cemetery, Roget also said that workers and not politicians will bring an end to the pandemic.
He said, “The curfew, SoE (state of emergency), the pandemic, will come to an end and it will come to an end because of the contribution of workers. Not Prime Minister, Opposition, Government, parliamentarians.”
Roget said, “Were it not for workers, there is no T&T.”
June 19, celebrates the struggles of the labour movement that had its beginning in 1937 with the attempted arrest of Butler in Fyzabad.
Labour Day celebrations usually starts with the laying of the wreath at Butler’s grave, a marathon and a procession to Charlie King Junction at the statue of Butler.
Only the wreath laying stayed in place as a curfew is in place on Saturday from 10am to 5am on Sunday.
