Port of Spain: Hundreds of workers are expected to converge in King George V Park in St Clair this morning despite urgent calls for dialogue from Prime Miniser Kamla Persad-Bissessar. The workers, led by Oilfield Workers Trade Union president Ancel Roget are expected to begin assembling within the next 20 minutes and begin the walk to the Office of the Prime Minister a short distance away.
A few minutes ago, Roget confirmed via text that the protest action will continue despite a late night call from the Prime Minister asking them to meet with new Planning Minister Bhoe Tiwarie and Labour Minister and former union leader Errol McLeod.
Roget said there will be no dialogue with any of the Ministers until the Government removed the five per cent wage ceiling that is currently on the negotiating table. Roget will be joined by other union leaders including the Communications Workers Union, Banking, Insurance and General Workers Union and several others. A new addition to the unified union approach is Michael Annisette, head of the National Trade Union Centre (NATUC). Anissette was absent from various union protests and has been shunned from many union platforms because of his senatorship under the Peoples National Movement (PNM) regime.
Annisette is expected to march with the unions today and be part of the contingent to deliver a letter to the Prime Minister, outlining the issues of the unions and the workers.
