Labour Minister Errol McLeod yesterday condemned the reported acts of violence against workers of Trinidad Cement Ltd (TCL) as they were being transported out of the company’s Claxton Bay facilities on Thursday.
The Trinidad and Tobago Contractors Association (TTCA) and Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) also condemned the act and called on workers to end their strike action.
A Labour Ministry release stated: “Such acts, including those reported against the police with respect to treatment meted out to any agent(s) of the Transport and Industrial Workers’ Union (TIWU) and TCL, have no place in the practice of industrial relations in a civilised society and it is hoped that the perpetrator(s) of such alleged acts, will be brought to justice.”
The TTCA stated the industrial relations dispute was having a widespread negative impact on the country’s economy.
“It is an accepted fact that an adequate supply of cement is an essential commodity for the construction industry which plays a powerful role in sustaining economic growth, in addition to producing structures that add to our productivity and quality of life,” the TTCA stated.
The contractors association also stated the inadequate supply of cement has placed many construction projects in “serious jeopardy”, both at State level and in the private sector leaving hundreds of workers without jobs.
The TTCA called on the Labour Minister to intervene before the current situation results in a national disaster.
The TTMA also called on the Minister to seek injunctive measures to bring the industrial action to a halt and to order the parties to appear before the court.
“The Association respects and upholds workers’ rights to collective bargaining, but workers also have a responsibility to ensure that the laws of the land are obeyed. Employees seeking to return to their jobs should not be subjected to what can only be described as terror tactics,” the TTMA stated.
(Source http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/McLeod_condemns_violence-143020985.html)
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