PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Workers at the Port of Port of Spain staged a protest Monday following the decision of the Trinidad and Tobago government not to honour a 12 per cent wage increase dating back to 2014.

The workers assembled outside the office of Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan, who told Parliament last Friday that based on legal advice from two senior counsels, the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (PATT) and the Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union (SWWTU) had been advised that the memorandum of agreement (MOA) under which the 12 per cent wage agreement had been reached is not enforceable.

“No surrender, no retreat, enough is enough,” the workers shouted.
SWWTU President General, Michael Annisette, confirmed “there are several areas that are not functional.”

He said also that the PATT had called a meeting with the workers starting from seven o’ clock this morning.

“Most of the workers, felt that was an insult to the workers that you bypass the union and you’re calling for a meeting to talk directly with the workers,” Annisette added.

PATT chairman, Lyle Alexander, later confirmed that work at the port had been affected as a result.

“As far as operations go, the operations at the port today have halted. We have no significant operations at the port going on because the workers did not turn out to work…and that’s where we are right now,” he said, adding that a meeting planned with the staff was not fully attended.

“There was a meeting of the staff this morning …I spoke to the employees. It was not a union meeting, it was not intended to be a union meeting (and) the attendance was impacted by the absence of some of the workers.”

“I am aware there was a call for a boycott by the union which seemingly they responded to that. Of course after the meeting there was a period for questions and we addressed some of the burning issues employees may have had…but not related solely…with the work stoppage.”

Annisette said the union is ready to meet with management to discuss the situation.

“We had meetings with the Shipping Association which were very productive and informative…where we were able to put our case to the parties and they understood what the real issues are.”

“So we are open to meet with anybody. We believe that our agreement with the Port Authority, which is our employer in law can stand scrutiny and all we are saying is implement the 12 per cent along with the various work practices ad framework agreements to make the Port profitable, more productive and more efficient in keeping with best international standards,” he added.

Port workers have been protesting since the start of October, demanding a 12 per cent salary increase for the period 2014 to 2017 that had been agreed upon with the previous government.
But Sinanan told legislators that the SWWTU was provided with an offer for the period 2014-17 and 2017-2020 and it has refused the submitted offer.

He said that the PATT has been “actively engaging the union to bring about a settlement on this matter without success”.

The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce (T&T Chamber) has already expressed concerns over the continued disruptions at the Port of Port of Spain noting that the labour dispute highlights labour and operational challenges, and it is urging key stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue for a swift resolution.

Sinanan told Parliament that PATT has signalled its “desire to continue negotiations in good faith, but is challenged with the long term inflationary economic impact”.

He insisted that the guidelines for the negotiations were not followed and as a result, the agreement reached cannot be honoured. He would not, when pressed by the opposition to disclose the names of the senior counsels, telling legislators “based on the discussions and the stage of these negotiations it would be improper for me to make those available based on impending court action that may come out of this decision”.

He recalled that in 2014 there was a committee headed by the then finance minister Larry Howai, adding “I don’t know of that was altered then, however what we can say is they do get guidelines from the committee on negotiations.”

Sinanan said he also wanted to reiterate that there are three bargaining units at the Port of Port of Spain and the “issue is with one of the bargaining units.”