By Chantalé Fletcher
CHANTING “Solidarity Forever”, scores of Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) workers together with representatives of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) gathered for a peaceful demonstration in Port of Spain on Tuesday.
Led by OWTU president Ancel Roget and executive members, workers marched outside the Ministry of Public Utilities demanding the attention of Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales.
They repeatedly sang “Marvin in the office hiding, hiding from workers” as they held placards that highlighted numerous unresolved issues within T&TEC.
Roget said that T&TEC remained one of the best functioning and reliable utility in Trinidad and Tobago however, this would not have been so if it was not for the human resource division and representation from the union.
He said, “We come to begin a process of communication by the workers themselves, and this process would continue and continue to build until the minister recognises his responsibility is to treat with this important utility called the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission.”
Roget said contract workers were just one of many issues that needed to be addressed by Gonzales.
He attributed the recent nationwide blackout to a fallen tree on the powerlines which was a result of contracting out the job.
Roget said it was a disrespect to the union since they hand-delivered the letter on April 11, no response was sent, not even an acknowledgment.
He once again raised issues such as contracting out permanent jobs, excessive overtime, and the refusal of the company to share the manpower audit and their business plan with the union.
Roget said workers were burnt-out and worked excessively long hours overtime while the Commission refused to fill vacancies of over 300.
He also accused the Government of setting up T&TEC for failure in which they would eventually send home workers.
But warned, “We as a union would not stand idly by and see T&TEC management aided and abetted while this line minister preparing to send workers home.”
