Labour Minister Errol McLeod, the man blamed for splintering the labour movement, has called for unity between the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) and the National Trade Union Centre (Natuc). Despite being heavily criticised and shunned at this year’s Labour Day celebrations, McLeod said he was saddened by the clash between both movements.
Natuc, led by general secretary Michael Annisette and Public Service Association (PSA) president Watson Duke, were thrown out of JTUM’s rally at Charlie King Junction, Fyzabad. Commenting on the fracas yesterday while distributing sporting equipment at the Claxton Bay Anglican Primary School, McLeod said it would be in the best interest of the working class if both bodies could put aside their differences.
The school was one of 14 in the constituency to received sporting equipment. He added: “I think it was sad for labour. All over the world people are seeing the important essence of coming together. “I hope the contending parties, as far as our situation is concerned locally, will come together and let us truly represent the socio-economic responsibilities that labour has for its members.
“I thought that I heard one of the contenders suggesting that others should come together. I take that as an invitation to at least meet and I will support any such meeting aimed at them coming together.” Having led the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) for more than a decade, McLeod was not invited to JTUM’s Labour Day celebrations where he was chastised for his tenure in government.
He said he attended the celebrations in Couva because he was invited by the All Trinidad General Workers Trade Union. Despite his estranged relationship with JTUM, he said if both labour forces united for the common good of workers, other trade unions would follow, adding he looks forward to better relations with the union.
Natuc was created in 1991 through a merger of the T&T Labour Congress and the Council of Progressive Trade Unions. After a 2000 convention, there was a split which resulted in the formation of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions and Non-Governmental Organisations (Fitun) and later JTUM as separate trade union bodies.