Labour Day Disgrace

Labour Day Disgrace

June 19th is a day on which the working class of Trinidad and Tobago demonstrate their UNITY and SOLIDARITY in their common struggle to achieve the aims of the anti-colonial uprising which began 78 years ago. 

Yesterday, however, there was another disgraceful display of the fragmentation of the trade union movement in the country as the historical launchpad of the Butler Riots was again defiled before the eyes of the nation and the world.

What the leaders of the trade union movement demonstrated in the clearest manner was the open confirmation of the ragged state of disunity among themselves. For years, it has been apparent that the movement was once again fragmented. 

But, this was not the first time those in one faction of the movement in chauvinistic and disruptive fashion have sought to claim "ownership" of Fyzabad and Charlie King junction and attempted to ban sections of the working class and trade union movements from the June 19 celebrations.

In the 1980's this same chauvinistic faction threatened revolutionary workers "not to come to Fyzabad" because they criticised the tactics of the then leader of the OWTU. That threat failed in the face of the refusal of the workers to be cowed into not joining with the rest of their class comrades in the commemorations in Fyzabad.

On other occasions, other trade unions were told they were not welcome in Fyzabad. Their response was to keep away and organise separate demonstrations in Couva or Arima on different occasions. In fact, this June 19 was the second occasion on which union activities were split in 3 different locations.

The history of the trade union movement in Trinidad and Tobago is replete with episodes of the wrecking activity of variouis factions who have attempted to prevent or disrupt the unity of the movement or the building of a single trade union collective.

The current split in the movement has its roots in the disruption brought about by the betrayal of the spirit of the historic unifying PSA Rooftop Accord which led to the creation of a single trade union centre - NATUC. The creation of NATUC brought an end to the division among unions which emerged from the split fostered by trade union leaders who supported the PNM in its creation of the anti-worker ISA (forerunner of the IRA) in 1965.

NATUC itself was divided by the same elements which sought to ban the unions who remain under its banner from Charlie King junction yesterday. 

This fragmentation of the trade union movement is aimed at disrupting the unity of the working class and the poor in the society to prevent them from organising with their own independent politics to advance the clarion call of 1937 - LET THOSE WHO LABOUR HOLD THE REINS!

The objective of this disruptive activity is to preserve the ANTI-WORKER POWER in the society.

It is vital that, while various elements are busy blaming this or that one for these shameful events, thinking people in the society, examine the situation carefully and uncover the hidden hand at work within and outside of the trade union movement that is really responsible for what we witnessed yesterday.