PSA official warns of labour disunity

Rohandra John rohjohn@trinidadexpress.com
Saturday, September 22nd 2007

VICE PRESIDENT of the Public Service Association (PSA), Stephen Thomas, yesterday warned that there were those who were trying to divide the labour movement and urged fellow union leaders to stick together, as it was the only way they would be "victorious" in the struggle for equity. (See page 5)

Thomas made this point as he addressed thousands of workers from within the public sector who assembled on the Brian Lara Promenade, after earlier marching through the streets of Port of Spain.

Thomas said that union leaders should be wary of the traps that are being set to bring about division in the labour movement at this time, as they needed to support each other.

He said that it seemed that at least one union leader, Robert Giuseppi, President General of the National Union for Government and Federated Workers (NUGFW), was already falling into the trap, judging from his recent attack on the PSA.

Thomas said he was surprised by media reports in which Giuseppi accused the PSA of trying to "piggy back" on daily-paid workers at the Water And Sewerage Authority (WASA), who were represented by the NUGFW in the wage negotiations.

He pointed out that the management has only so far offered a 15 per cent increase to the monthly paid workers at WASA, who are being represented by the PSA, while it was offering a 28-31 per cent increase to daily-paid workers.

But if the PSA settles for the proposal as is, this would result in subordinate daily-paid workers getting higher salaries than their monthly-paid supervisors, Thomas said.

"So that when we say that we are not going to accept such a proposal, we don't understand how a union leader could say such a thing," he added.

Giuseppi was not among the trade union leaders who participated in yesterday's demonstration, which was meant to put pressure on employers to complete outstanding wage negotiations for thousands of workers within the public sector.

Why he now fockin worried about the labour movement divided. When the fockin PNM brutalised and closed down Caroni, one of the largest unions went to the grave with it (ATSGWTU). Not one fockin other union or union leader did or said any fockin thing.

The fockin assholes closed down Bwee and so went 3 fockin unions. Not one union or union leader said or did anything.

They fock out the National Broadcasting Network. Another fockin union went under. No fockin ass say anything.

The doctors of this country looking for recognition through MPATT. To represent themselves and not one focker say anything.

Poor fockin people workin in the CEPEP program are not and cannot be unionised, so they are at the mercy of the contractors and the PNM. Not one cont say anything.

The PNM has and is literally destroying the labour movement by mashin up the unions and favouring those that support them politically like the PSA.

And this cont come to talk fockery now. Man u fock off.