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Cement workers expected back on job today

May, 29 2012

(Trinidad)  --  After 90 days striking workers of Trinidad Cement Ltd (TCL) turned up for duty yesterday but were not allowed to enter the Claxton Bay plant.

They were greeted with locked gates and no parking signs across the company’s main entrance. They are expected to return to work this morning. President general of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) Ancel Roget, who addressed workers outside the plant yesterday, said under the Industrial Relations Act workers had to return to work because the legal 90-day strike period had ended. “If any worker is not allowed to return to work the union will view this as continuing industrial action by the company and a contravention of the Industrial Relations Act and we warn you to desist from such action,” he said.
 
A tent, with table,s also was placed in front the main gate which workers claimed was set up by management to get them to sign individual contacts before resuming work. “We will go back in strong, we will go back in united, we will go back in an even stronger force. They are afraid that is why they are attempting to divide us here with individual contracts,” Roget told the workers. He also commended them for their resolve over the 90-day strike and for standing up for what they believed. “You should be proud of yourselves,” he added. Roget said a meeting of the union’s general council on Saturday decided it would write to Labour Minister Errol McLeod to refer the matter to the court.

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