Tag Archives: Trade unions

“[…] We are dealing with a very insecure administration here. Lloyd Best would always point out that these administrations come into office pre-collapsed. “[…] Faced with the just demands for food, clothes and shelter, for bread, peace and justice, the ruling class and its representatives in government have opted for …

In 1937 Trinidad and Tobago, life was not easy. Worker abuse, underpayment of workers, and overt racism were not uncommon. The economy was in decline, affected by the great depression globally. Living standards of the working class fell considerably. Conditions were ripe for social unrest—and importantly, for change. There had …

“[…] My pay has not moved since 2014… While everything around me kept climbing. The bills. The groceries. The cost of a life that quietly became unaffordable. “[…] We were told to be grateful. To stay professional. To not question. To not push back. “But how do you stay silent, …

In the rhythm of life in Trinidad and Tobago, and across the wider Caribbean, we know the power of a good “bacchanal.” One moment, a public figure—or perhaps a private citizen caught in the crosshairs—commits a transgression; the next, the digital hive mind descends. On Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram, …

With three federations and fractured choices, the Trade Union Movement remains divided and workers continue to pay the price. Instead of presenting a united front, unions act in isolation—leaving governments free to exploit division and weakening the credibility of collective bargaining. From its inception, the Movement in Trinidad and Tobago …

“[…] The Industrial Court wields quasi-constitutional powers in employment matters. It issues binding decisions affecting the rights of workers, unions, and employers. The notion that such a role can be filled by a recent Opposition MP, without even a law degree, ought to provoke national concern. “Appointments to judicial office, particularly one …

“[…] The Government’s position, as expounded by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Affairs Minister, is not neutrality by any diplomatic or regional standard. “[…] Authority without principle, without consultation and without regard for Caricom unity and regional peace is not leadership—it is recklessness masquerading as sovereignty…” The following guest …

Elements of the trade union movement now sits inside the coalition that governs Trinidad and Tobago. That should have brought working-class concerns closer to the centre of national decision-making. Instead, we’re seeing silence, especially on the issues that matter most to working people. There may be voices in the room, …

The recent article by Ashton Ford, former general secretary of the People’s National Movement (PNM), attempts to paint the PNM as a historic champion of labour. While it’s true the party has had moments of engagement with trade unionists and enacted key legislation decades ago, this selective retelling overlooks the …

It is usual for all attention to be put on Tubal Uriah Butler on Labour Day. This year, however, my thoughts were on CLR James, who is arguably our outstanding contribution to political philosophy. In 1962, he wrote an insightful piece called Party Politics in the West Indies, in which …

“[…] The 10 years under the Dr Keith Rowley-led PNM saw a vicious attack on the trade union movement and the working class as that government pursued its neo-liberal policies that result in the rich becoming richer, the middle-income struggle to make ends meet, and the poor not able to …

Trade unions have been critical players in the struggle for workers’ rights, improved living conditions, and societal equity throughout history. This is particularly true in the Caribbean, where the influence of trade unions extends far beyond labour relations, embedding itself into the political, social, and economic fabric of the region. …