Caption: The Port of Port of Spain. AZP News/Azlan Mohammed
INDUSTRIAL action that began on Wednesday, saw scores of workers at the Port of Port of Spain walk off the job, raising serious concerns among local business.
The walkout, initiated shortly after 7 am stems from a range of grievances, including health and safety issues and stalled wage negotiations, and has already led to disruptions in port operations.
The striking workers headed to their union, the Seamen and Waterfront Workers’ Trade Union (SWWTU), located on Wrightson Road, to voice their concerns. This action mirrors recent strikes in the United States, where nearly 50,000 port workers initiated a walkout last Tuesday, affecting operations along the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast.
President of the SWWTU Michael Annisette addressed the workers, warning that the ongoing industrial action could cost the port millions and jeopardise over 80%of its revenue.
He said, “The port generates most of its revenue from receiving, storing, and delivering cargo, and this operational department is now affected,”
Annisette said that the workers should not be blamed for the disruption, highlighting their frustration over unmet promises from management.
Port of Port of Spain CEO Robert Ramsubhag confirmed that operations have already been impacted, with the port functioning at limited capacity due to a shortage of labor. He noted that vessel operations, West Gate operations, and terminal loading and offloading have all been affected.
Annisette said that the workers did not intend to harm business owners or citizens but had reached a breaking point after years of unmet expectations. “The workers have come to the union president to voice their concerns, which is their right,” he said.
This is not the first instance of workers walking off the job at the port; earlier this year, 1,000 workers staged a similar protest, demanding solutions to health and safety issues and a 12% increase.
Meanwhile, businessmen who are bringing in their goods for Divali and Christmas say they are losing thousands of dollars because of uncleared goods.
Other said they were also finding it difficult to export as operations have grinded to a halt.
