PORT OF SPAIN – The Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) has received police clearance for its protest march scheduled for tomorrow.
The leaders are expected to begin the march from Woodford Square at 1 p.m, north along Abercromby Street to Gordon and then to Chancery Lane.
They intend to proceed along the Queen’s Park Savannah to the Prime Minister’s St Clair office, down Alexandra Street, St Clair and then to Carlos Street, ending at Adam Smith Square where leaders will address the gathering.
Slated speakers include Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) leader David Abdulah, People’s National Movement (PNM) leader, Dr Keith Rowley and Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) leader Ancel Roget.
The march, which Roget announced during Labour Day celebrations, is expected to address the Government’s failure to treat with the workers agenda which includes removal of the limitations imposed on striking workers, measures to prevent decertification of trade unions and independence and security of tenure for judges appointed to the Industrial Court.
The Workers Agenda also calls for amendments or reformation of labour legislation including an increased minimum wage, the immediate disbanding of the Public Sector Negotiating Committee (PSNC) and an amendment to the Maternity Protection Act, to provide for 14 weeks maternity leave and Day Care Centres to be built by Government and companies.
This protest action comes even as Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar called for workers to blank the planned action. Speaking at the United National Congress’ Monday night forum meeting in Caroni, Persad-Bissessar described the march as “tainted” and designed to embarrass the Government.
Roget, in a telephone interview yesterday, said “all systems were a go”. He said the unions continued meeting with various communities and spent yesterday morning in Rio Claro handing out flyers and garnering support. The group is expected to head to San Juan today in an effort to build more support for tomorrow’s march.