The Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) yesterday declined an invitation to discuss issues related to the economy and the energy sector with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, calling the invitation disrespectful and labelling it a public relations ploy.
However yesterday, while meeting with 17 trade unions and workers’ association at the Diplomatic Center, St Ann’s, Persad-Bissessar said there was no disrespect intended.
Yesterday, speaking on behalf of JTUM at a press conference at Communication Workers’ Union Hall on Henry Street, President General of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) Ancel Roget announced that JTUM members had decided to stay clear of the meeting.
The meeting called on unions to discuss, “the turbulence in the global energy sector and the impact of lower oil prices on economies” such as T&T’s.
Roget, who said the JTUM was about seeking the interest of the development and the progress and the welfare and well being of T&T, said the unions would spare no effort to ensure that all citizens, all members and workers were protected in good times and bad times.
He said members of JTUM had decided not to attend the meeting as they felt the invitation had come as an afterthought.
Roget said it was an invitation to get involved in a “massive public relations exercise” of the Government for Persad-Bissessar to portray herself of being in control.
“The Prime Minister and the Minister of Labour who signed this invitation, carry absolute knowledge of all the unions in this country and their leadership and structures and so on and therefore we felt afronted and disrespected to have received a piece of correspondence signed by the Minister of Labour on behalf of the Prime Minister addressing us as dear stakeholder.”
He said all unions in the country were headed in particular ways and had particular structures.
“We take it as a mark of disrespect to have been served an invitation in a generic approach and addressed as labour stakeholders.”
Roget also said JTUM felt that no purpose would have been served in the interest of workers, with them attending the meeting.