By Sue-Ann Wayow
CITIZENS Union of Trinidad and Tobago CUTT has written to Republic Bank Ltd asking that the policy regarding mandatory Covid-19 vaccination be abolished.
In a letter dated December 9 and addressed to the bank’s managing director Nigel Baptiste, the group stated that it was writing on behalf of the workers some of whom have been reported in the media to have been threatened with suspension or dismissal based on their refusal to accept vaccinations as new, and without consent, varied terms of employment.
The workers are being represented by the Banking, Insurance and General Workers’ Union (BIGWU) which has already taken the bank to the Industrial Court on the issue and the matter is due to be heard in February. A Joint Select Committee (JSC) of Parliament was told that hundreds of unvaccinated employees may be suspended by January for non-compliance with the company’s policy.
Republic Bank, on September 6, implemented a mandatory PCR test for unvaccinated staff which must be paid for by the employee.
The letter written by CUTT’s executive director Phillip Edward Alexander stated, “ We write this to inform you that we intend to make our considerable resources available to represent these workers at every juncture should they so require, but more importantly to advise you, should you continue down this path that ignores the rights of these workers, we also intend to launch a vigorous national campaign to encourage all unvaccinated customers to take their business away from your organization so as to respect your segregationist policy where the unvaccinated are concerned.”
Alexander said that while there were persons in some groups who may be more susceptible to the virus, Covid-19 does not pose a major threat to the average person who should not be forced “through such tremendous risk for so little if any reward.”
“We write this hoping for a resolution where real science triumphs, common sense prevails, and everyone wins,” Alexander wrote.
