Port-of-Spain: Despite the spate of violence allegedly linked to the strikers at Trinidad Cement Limited, Labour Minister Errol McLeod says he cannot accede to requests from the business community to send the dispute to the Industrial Court.
The minister has the authority under section 65 one of the Industrial Relations Act to make an application to the Industrial Court ex-parte, for an injunction restraining the parties from taking action, if he considers the national interest is threatened or affected.
The minister has authority under Section 65-1 of the act to consider whether the prevailing circumstances provide justifiable reasons for interfering in the free collective bargaining process.
He must also consider whether the impact of the industrial action can provide the minister with sufficient grounds to persuade the court to grant the exparte injunction.
Minister McLeod says while he is deeply concerned about the acts of violence and reports of hoarding and profiteering by retailers.., he does not deem those factors as a threat to the national interest.
TCL has started importing cement from its subsidiaries to meet local demands and minister McLeod says he does not consider that the prevailing factors provide him with persuasive arguments to convince the court that the national interest is being threatened by the strike.
Minister McLeod says he awaits the company's response to an informal suggestion put to them last week and he will continue to pursue all avenues to bring an end to the situation.
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