By Sue-Ann Wayow
A FRONTAL attack is being made by Government on the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) and the trade union movement.
This was the declaration made by President of the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) Ancel Roget on Wednesday at the Banking Insurance and General Workers Union Head Office, 8th Street, Barataria.
JTUM together with TTUTA’s President Antonia Tekah-De Freitas held a joint press conference to speak out on issues surrounding TTUTA in its fight against the Government’s offer of a 4% salary increase amongst other wage negotiations.
There were also representatives from several other unions attending.
Roget said, “The entire trade union movement stands behind and support wholeheartedly the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association and that we stand with them in their stance against the 4%.”
He said, “What we are witnessing here is a frontal attack on the trade union movement in this country. A frontal attack on any position that is contrary to a position held by the Government.”
Once anyone is standing up for their own interest, they were attacked and in the most ruthless way by those who pledge to protect the rights of individuals, Roget added.
He also emphasised that whatever action to be taken by JTUM would be within the law adding that the injunction filed on Sunday “came like a thief in the night.”
Little was actually said about that injunction filed by the Ministry of Labour as the matter is before the Industrial Court. TTUTA members have been advised to abide by the injunction.
The injunction was granted by the Industrial Court after the Minister of Labour applied for it to have teachers go to work on Monday after they planned to stay away from schools to “rest and reflect.” On Monday, Minister of Finance Colm Imbert also delivered the 2022/2023 Budget in the Lower House.
General secretary of the National Trade Union Centre (NATUC) Michael Annisette vowed, “This struggle will continue until we get justice… We will continue to stand up for our rights.”
To the Government, he said, “You find money to pay for all kind of things, find money to pay decent wages.”
On Tuesday, Tekah De-Freitas took it upon herself to protest outside the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain.
She said she was representing all teachers whose plights needed to be heard.
