Integrity Platform

In what seems to be a classic case of Deja-Vou, our country is once again plunged into election mode following charges of corruption left, right and center. The electioneering is once again the major pre-occupation of politicians who desperately try to pull wool over the eyes of the electorate. They are making veterans of us all. In the midst of this madness though, there is sanity - the Integrity Platform is back on track!

This Platform is the Public Education activity of the Group of Independent Trade Unions and NGO’s. It was first initiated by the Independent Unions in the lead up to the December 2000 General Elections and is again playing a crucial role in the build up to the December 10^th, 2001 General Elections.

It was on this Platform that the issues of Corruption in the Health Sector, at Petrotrin, Trinmar, The National Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago and in the big land deals (Toco, Las Cuevas, Sea Lots and Invaders Bay) were publicly highlighted. Indeed it is on this platform that other corruption issues are again given light as they are unfolded to the public.

The Objectives of the Integrity Platform continue to be:

1. To inform and educate the public on key local and national issues (corruption, sellout of the country’s patrimony, health, safety and the environment, crisis facing youth, other policies that adversely affect citizens);

2. To educate on and discuss the need for major reform of the economic so that we can have a society built on the principle of Peace, Bread and Justice for all;

3. To educate on and discuss the issue of the need for constitutional reform;

4. To hear the concerns and issues of the local community and identify common actions to address these concerns

The platform is being met with tremendous vibrancy. The 2001 version of the Platform began on Wednesday October 31, with a Meeting at the Point Fortin Civic Centre. As was expected, we had a lively audience who appreciated both the informative and educational platform and the opportunity to express the concerns of residents. On Thursday November 1, it moved to Majuba Junction, La Brea where the turn out spoke loudly on the need for the straight-up addressing of the issues. On Wednesday November 07, the Platform was held at Fyzabad - Hall of the Revolution. Although it rained heavily, there was a wide turn out from all sides of the community. On Thursday 8^th it was the turn of the community of Plaisance park and surrounding areas to host the Platform. The Regional Complex was filled to capacity and those who came out were not disappointed as they heard a powerful battery of speakers.

Platform goes to Tobago!

The Integrity Platform moved to Tobago on Thursday 15^th with a very positive session at the Fairfield Complex in Scarborough. In addition to comrades from the OWTU, the Platform featured several key activists from Tobago such as Dr. Winston Murray and brother Anthony

James. There was considerable audience participation and all who attended commended the Platform as the only public meeting that is dealing with the important and relevant issues affecting Tobago and the country in general.

We have been broadcasting a number of the Platform meetings live on Power 102FM so that the message reaches a much wider and national audience. The Tobago meeting was broadcast live on Radio Tambrin and covered by the Tobago TV station – Channel 5. A complete schedule of coming Platform meetings can be located on the Union’s Website – www.owtu.org.

Techier Village Oil Spill Disaster

In what amounted to a senseless loss of animal, plant and fish life, considerable property damage and serious health problems for residents, the October 19^th, Oil Spill at Techier Village, Point Fortin left us all disgusted by the attitude of Petrotrin and the relevant authorities. Is this the manner in which residents will be treated should another unfortunate incident such as this occur? This is one among many questions being asked by Techier residents and the country generally.

The Role of the Lease Operator in the Spill

In the vicinity of Well FC #150, a thriving ecology existed, rich in rare species of Birds, Snakes, Caimans, Frogs, Iguanas, Butterflies and Insects. In what was home to Casscadoos and Cusscurabs, now lay layers of Brown Crude Oil. The loss of fish life is among the irreversible damage done to the rivers by this latest manifestation of corporate mal-practice which is now the norm at Petrotrin.

Corporate Negligence by Petrotrin

Petrotrin through its negligent and irresponsible corporate approach to environmental preservation and sustainability ensured the complete destruction of aquatic life in these tributaries of the Guapo River. Imagine no one in HSE had the foresight to place booms along the rivers to minimize the flow of oil into the sea. It was through the interruption of Trinmar’s EHS Manager, Tyrone Kalpee, that booms were placed along the rivers around 10:00 am on the Monday morning following the Spill.

The only real concern of Petrotrin Officials seemed to be the evasion of questions and defending Corporate Petrotrin. The issue was NOT treated as a disaster. It was many days after that company President Jagai visited the area. The concerns and anxieties of residents were treated with very little regard or respect. Token contributions of $500.00 per household was truly an injustice. Government Ministers made belated visits and then said everything was OK. Of course they don’t live in Techier and therefore didn’t experience the smell of oil and other fumes. They didn’t have their water supply contaminated or get meals delivered hours late. Gillette and Nanan demonstrated typical politician behaviour!

The OWTU’s Position – Stop Farm-out and Lease-out Now!

The OWTU reacted almost immediately to the crisis. Our branch officers from Trinmar and Petrotrin were on the spot, advising residents and trying to get Petrotrin and Tracmac to implement proper measures. The President General and other officers toured the disaster area on Monday and met with residents. The Union also made sure that the issue stayed in the public’s focus through the use of the media. Residents publicly thanked the OWTU for its role in responding to the disaster.

The blow-out was a graphic vindication of the Union’s position against the farm-out, lease-out programme. This programme threatens the environment. It threatens permanent jobs. It threatens life and limb. It results in the super-exploitation of the workers employed by the lease-out operators. It is a corrupt system and is causing a few operators who are well connected to company officials and/or the ruling party to make millions at the expense of Petrotrin. It is a fore-runner to the complete sale of the oilfields and is therefore privatization of the nation’s patrimony. For all these reasons the programme must be stopped NOW!

March # 2 – THE RALLY AGAINST CORRUPTION

On Saturday November 10^th March number 2 began from the Pointe-a-Pierre Roundabout in front of Petrotrin’s Headquarters. Citizen support was excellent throughout the distance of the March all the way to the Harris Promenade in San Fernando. Unions in attendance were PSA, Fire Services Association, TICFA, SWUTT, CWU, ATASS, Prison Officers Association and CGWTU. A number of community based organizations and representatives of political parties also participated. The blue-shirts of the OWTU were in the great majority.

Taking to the platform in the rally that followed at Harris Promenade were Jennifer Baptiste of the PSA, Owen Hinds of the Contractors and General Workers Union, Fire Services Association’s President Lennox London, Grafton Woodley of SWUTT, Mohammed Hosein of TICFA and OWTU’s President General, Errol K. McLeod.

High on the agenda was the issue of widespread corruption in the distribution of the nation’s financial and other resources and the need for true Transparency. Comrade McLeod called on all citizens and working people in particular to get away from the notion of ‘Indian voting for Indian and African voting for African’ since ordinary people have nothing to gain from that while the owners and managers of capital profit. He outlined, in particular the facts surrounding the Inncogen deal and that only corruption could explain what a bad deal resulted for T&TEC and therefore the country. He urged all to be vigilant and to intensify the struggle against corruption since the nature of corruption is such that our democracy will be under threat.

THE PRESIDENT GENERALS BALL 

AN EVENING EXTRAORDINAIRE

In what emerged as nothing less than an evening of true splendor and extravagance, the President Generals Ball climbed to a higher level of class in 2001. As the many talents unfolded secretly and otherwise on the dance floor, the music played on romancing even the rusty among us.

At the end of the musical provocations by Louis and the Lynx, Joey Lewis and DJ Chris, Five (5) Door Prizes were won by lucky patrons. These Prizes were with the kind courtesy of Nestle, who donated two (2), National Canners, who donated two (2) and Guardian Life Insurance, who donated one (1).

Best Dressed Male was awarded to Mr. Huglard Williams. He received tickets for two to Tobago courtesy Consolidated Insurance Consultant Limited. Queen of the Ball was Ms. Sylda Agard. She also received tickets for two to Tobago with the kind compliments of Olton’s Travel Service.

OUR SINCERE CONDOLENCES

The Central Executive and General Council of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union express our profound shock at the news of the passing of the Outstanding Grenadian Patriot Kenrick Radix. Brother "Dix" as he was popularly known was a friend of the OWTU for many decades. He was also a quintessential Caribbean man having spent his early years in San Fernando where his father worked. The Radix family is as much Trinidadian as it is Grenadian.

Kenrick Radix was a passionate fighter for justice. It was that commitment that led to his reward as a lawyer for the small man in Grenada. It was therefore very logical that he would partner another young Grenadian lawyer – Maurice Bishop in the cause of the liberation of Grenada from the political backwardness of Gairyism and for the building of a new and just society.

It was therefore inevitable that the New Jewel Movement led by Maurice Bishop and with close friend and comrade Kenrick Radix also in the leadership would take power. The only quotients were how and when. It is now history that it was by revolutionary seizure of power and the date was March 13^th 1979. Kenrick Radix took his rightful place as a leading member of the People’s Revolutionary Government.

The internal dynamics of the NJM, with the rise of the conflict element in the party, saw Kenrick being gradually sidelined, but his commitment to Revolution and to the Grenadian people was not wavered nor did his fearlessness. And so it was that it was Kenrick who began the mass mobilization against the Coard Faction when Maurice was put under house arrest and and the PRG hijacked. Eschewing the risk to his own life, he ensured that Grenadians and the world knew about the sinister developments by holding public meetings in Market Square in St Georges and other wise mobilizing popular resistance to the Coard Faction.

Following the tragic events of October 19^th when Maurice and many others were brutally killed, Kenrick took up the pieces and with others committed to the work of the Revolution, organized the Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement. He was its first leader. In the latter period of his life he devoted more time to his family and his practice, especially as his health deteriorated.

In mourning his passing the O.W.T.U. salutes his outstanding contributions as a patriot and fighters for justice and we extend our sincere condolences to his wife and children.

HEALTH SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT FEATURE

Friends of the Earth

USING GLOBALISATION TO SAVE THE Environment!

In a very inventive and sensible effort, an International Organisation known as Friends of the Earth – FoE, has found a way to use Globalisation to preserve the Environment.

They work with locally affected communities, environmental and human rights organizations, shareholders, and Wall Street to challenge corporations to become better global citizens.

Through their Green Investments program, they are working to improve the capacity of the global marketplace to foster sustainability by taking the environment directly to Wall Street. The Green Investments project is dedicated to making financial markets more capable of protecting the future of the earth and local communities by changing financial systems and practices.

The Report of the General Council came in for extremely high praise from the many Delegates who spoke. Delegates referred to the leadership of the Union’s Central Executive and President General, in particular, in the securing of very substantial increases in wages, salaries and other working conditions for thousands of members employed in oil, electricity, manufacturing and services.

Delegates also initiated an important discussion on issues raised in the Report pertaining to the sustained attack on workers’ job security as a result of privatizations, trade liberalization and the casualisation of the labour force and mandated the Union to engage in a major campaign on these issues. The Report was passed unanimously by the Delegates.

The Audited Financial Statement of the Union for the year 2000 was discussed in detail by Delegates. Once again the OWTU’s leadership came in for high praise for the excellent job of managing the Union’s resources. Delegates referred to the Management Letter by the External Auditor, Mr. Alwin Clunis, which stated inter alia: "The above financial statements are a very good presentation of the OWTU which must be a reflection of your most comprehensive chart of accounts and effective computer oriented accounting infrastructure as executed by well trained staff. These financial statements are certainly among the best I have seen prepared by a Union".

Delegates made a number of suggestions for further maximizing the Union’s financial resources and other assets. At the end of the debate both the Audited Financial Statement 2000 and the Budget 2002 were passed by a unanimous vote.

RESOLUTION PILOTED BY SYLVAN WILSON DEFEATED

The only Resolution listed for debate was one that came form the Hydro Agri Unit, and was piloted by Sylvan Wilson, President of that Unit. The Resolution sought to have amended certain of the Regulations pertaining to the Union’s Central Executive Elections. An extensive Debate ensued on this Resolution. It was pointed out by a number of Delegates that under the Rule 14(1) of the Union, the Regulations for the conduct of elections shall be drawn up by the General Council, that the very Resolution to amend the Regulations was brought to the General Council by Sylvan Wilson but could not be considered because he could not get it seconded. It was therefore highly unusual for it to be brought to the Annual Conference. At the end of the debate, the resolution was overwhelmingly defeated, the vote being 7 in favour of amending the Regulations, 108 Against and with 5 Abstentions. The Annual Conference therefore demonstrated in no uncertain manner that it was satisfied with the Union’s Election Rules and Regulations.

In discussing the way forward for the Union, under the Agenda Item "General Business", Delegates unanimously agreed to a proposal by the President General that there should be a full scale mobilization of our members and other concerned workers and nationals for the first of a series of Mass Action to be taken on August 29^th. The issues to be targeted in that mobilization include corruption, the destruction of the oil industry, privatization, threats to job security and other attacks on workers.

The consensus by Delegates at the end of the 62^nd Annual Conference is that the OWTU is well prepared to go forward in struggle and to provide the independent, fearless leadership that the country so desperately needs at this time of moral and political bankruptcy.

The Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union congratulates the militant workers employed at the ALNG Trains 2 & 3 construction site, for their courageous action. You demonstrated UNITY and SOLIDARITY and sent a loud and clear message to ALNG, Bechtel, and all the sub-contractors at the site. The message is that:

UPDATE ON Atlantic LNG

PEOPLE MUST COME BEFORE PROFITS!.

The OWTU first extends condolences to the families and friends of Comrade Emmanuel Fraser and Kevin Joseph who tragically lost their lives in an accident at the ALNG site.

If we were to take the traditional approach and attempt to lay blame we would have quite a task ahead of us.

Imagine taking Atlantic LNG to task for negligence and bad safety practices only to be told that they contracted Bechtel who in turn would say that they sub-contracted Chicago Bridge & Iron. Who is Chicago Bridge & Iron, and what do they have to do with the death of our comrades, you might ask? Then you would be told that it does not matter who they are because they actually sub-contracted Carillion, who in turn hired yet other contractors such as Damus and others. Where does it stop?

This vicious cycle will persist until and unless the Government implements a regulatory framework that mandates employers to implement and police safety practices-regardless as to who is sub-contracted. We will not continue to pay with our blood! To date this year we have had seven (7) deaths on the job! They all occurred at Corporate giants that boast of safety routines, safety training and safety records. Companies such as Petrotrin, Caroni, Atlantic LNG and T&TEC who want fame but not blame. They want to boast for free.

The OWTU’s position following the tragic accident was clear. We developed four strategic mandates:

1. A proper investigation
2. Responsibility for the Accident
3. Compensation for the Families
4. Decent Terms & Conditions of work

ALNG brought in an exclusive foreign investigating team so as to remove liability from themselves. The OWTU however was still able to bring the facts to light. While ALNG is laying the blame squarely in the lap of the workers, saying that they were negligent and did not wear their safety harness, our investigations revealed that there was in fact no safety supervisor present on the night of the accident.

Further inquiries show that there is a rush to build this tank faster than a similar tank built in India. For every ‘ring’ of the tank that is built, the workers get a 20-hour wage package. The contractors have actually couched wages, hired workers at very reduced rates, and are misleading them into thinking that these additional wage packages are safety bonuses for incident free, speedy work. Perhaps this is the kind of thing they are referring to when they write on their website

"....From concept to initial production, the Atlantic LNG Train I project took just six and a half years compared to the worldwide average development time of fourteen years for similar projects. The credit for this goes in part to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and its management of the country's gas reserves. The strategic integration of the various project partners as well as their commercial planning strategies have also contributed to Atlantic's achievement of the lowest ever plant capital cost in recent times…."

In terms of compensation for the families, there has been nothing that can compare to the standards that apply in the home countries of these Companies. At least one of the families has decided to take the ALNG to court. The families have been told that they would receive Workmens Compensation. Given the structural adjustment realities of this third world country, how realistic or adequate is Workmens Compensation? These men were the sole breadwinners in their families! What about the humanitarian approach that normally would have been afforded to the victims families in other countries? Is there no consideration for their children’s future and perhaps employment opportunities?

The truth is ALNG is afraid of setting a precedent for future cases, perhaps because they expect that there will be future accidents.

These energy companies are being allowed to exploit our labour, do untold damage to our coastlines and forestry, make token contributions to the communities in which they operate and go home with fat salaries at the end of the month. Just look at the totally transparent effort at appeasing the Point Fortin community after the accident. They put out an advertisement for Training Point Fortin residents in Iron Fabricating and Tile Laying. This can hardly be considered long term sustainable development. Most welders leave the job after two years anyway. Their Public Relations campaign only breeds disgust. They give a $10,000 donation to the basket ball team, uniforms to the net ballers and thereby purchase permission to continue their work.

What about the Environmental Impact Assessment? Who did it, who saw it, what did it say? Is this not enough! Is the government not convinced that the energy sector simply cannot continue without the Occupational Safety, Health and Environmental Bill? The time for OSHA has gone and we are now dying without it!

The following is an excerpt from the Atlantic LNG Website taken on Friday Oct. 05, 2001:"...During operation, the plant has maintained the excellent safety standards of only 3 lost time accidents (LTAs), no fatalities and an OSHA rate of 1.2 in over 13.4 million job hours set during construction. The operating company has recorded its first million job hours without a fatality, 1 LTA and an OSHA recordable rate of 0.23 as at August, 2000. During November, 2000 the plant celebrated this safety achievement as well as the delivery of its 100th cargo…."

You be the judge! There is no mention of the lives that were lost. Clearly they have isolated themselves from the accident. Safety for their purposes is measured only in ratios relative to lost time and other figures, not in the number of lives lost!

September 2001

Fellow countrymen:

No one can deny that terrorism is today a dangerous and ethically indefensible phenomenon, which should be eradicated regardless of its deep origins, the economic and political factors that brought it to life and those responsible for it.

The unanimous irritation caused by the human and psychological damage brought on the American people by the unexpected and shocking death of thousands of innocent people whose images have shaken the world is perfectly understandable. But who have profited? The extreme right, the most backward and right-wing forces, those in favor of crushing the growing world rebellion and sweeping away everything progressive that is still left on the planet. It was an enormous error, a huge injustice and a great crime by whomever they are who organized or are responsible for such action.

owever, the tragedy should not be used to recklessly start a war that could actually unleash an endless carnage of innocent people and all of this on behalf of justice and under the peculiar and bizarre name of "Infinite Justice".

In the last few days we have seen the hasty establishment of the basis, the concept, the true purposes, the spirit and the conditions for such a war. No one would be able to affirm that it was not something thought out well in advance, something that was just waiting for its chance to materialize. Those who after the so-called end of the cold war continued a military build-up and the development of the most sophisticated means to kill and exterminate human beings were aware that the large military investments would give them the privilege to impose an absolute and complete dominance over the other peoples of the world. The ideologists of the imperialist system knew very well what they were doing and why they were doing it.

After the shock and sincere sorrow felt by every people on Earth for the atrocious and insane terrorist attack that targeted the American people, the most extremist ideologists and the most belligerent hawks, already set in privileged power positions, have taken command of the most powerful country in the world whose military and technological capabilities would seem infinite. Actually, its capacity to destroy and kill is enormous while its inclination towards equanimity, serenity, thoughtfulness and restrain is minimal.

The combination of elements --including complicity and the common enjoyment of privileges-- the prevailing opportunism, confusion and panic make it almost impossible to avoid a bloody and unpredictable outcome.

The first victims of whatever military actions are undertaken will be the billions of people living in the poor and underdeveloped world with their unbelievable economic and social problems, their unpayable debts and the ruinous prices of their basic commodities; their growing natural and ecological catastrophes, their hunger and misery, the massive undernourishment of their children, teenagers and adults; their terrible AIDS epidemic, their malaria, their tuberculosis and their infectious diseases that threaten whole nations with extermination.

The grave economic world crisis was already a real and irrefutable fact affecting absolutely every one of the big economic power centers. Such crisis will inevitably grow deeper under the new circumstances and when it becomes unbearable for the overwhelming majority of the peoples, it will bring chaos, rebellion and the impossibility to govern.

But the price will also be unpayable for the rich countries. For years to come it would be impossible to speak strong enough by about the environment and the ecology, or about ideas and research done and tested, or about projects for the protection of Nature because that space and possibility would be taken by military actions, war and crimes as infinite as "Infinite Justice", that is, the name given to the war operation to be unleashed.

Can there be any hope left after having listened, hardly 36 hours ago, to the speech made the President before de U.S. Congress?

I will avoid the use of adjectives, qualifiers or offensive words towards the author of that speech. They would be absolutely unnecessary and untimely when the tensions and seriousness of the moment advise thoughtfulness and equanimity. I will limit myself to underline some short phrases that say it all:

"We will use every necessary weapon of war."

"Every nation in every region now has a decision to make. Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists."

"The course of this conflict is not known, yet its outcome is certain. [...] And we know that God is not neutral."

"We will use any weapon."

No procedure has been excluded, regardless of its ethics, or any threat whatever fatal, either nuclear, chemical, biological or any other.

This is an amazing assertion. When I think about the real or imagined parties involved that bizarre holy war that is about to begin, I find it difficult to make a distinction about where fanaticism is stronger.

We have all been ordered to ally either with the United States government or with terrorism.

Cuba, the country that has suffered the most and the longest from terrorist actions, the one whose people are not afraid of anything because there is no threat or power in the world that can intimidate it, with a high morale Cuba claims that it is opposed to terrorism and opposed to war. Although the possibilities are now remote, Cuba reaffirms the need to avert a war of unpredictable consequences whose very authors have admitted not to have the least idea of how the events will unfold. Likewise, Cuba reiterates its willingness to cooperate with every country in the total eradication of terrorism.

An objective and calm friend should advise the United States government against throwing the young American soldiers into an uncertain war in remote, isolated and inaccessible places, like a fight against ghosts, not knowing where they are or even if they exist or not, or whether the people they kill are or not responsible for the death of their innocent fellow countrymen killed in the United States.

Cuba will never declare itself an enemy of the American people that is today subjected to an unprecedented campaign to sow hatred and a vengeful spirit, so much so that even the music that sings to peace has been banned. On the contrary, Cuba will make that music its own, and even our children will sing their songs to peace while the announced bloody war lasts.

Whatever happens, the territory of Cuba will never be used for terrorist actions against the American people and we will do everything within our reach to prevent such actions against that people. Today we are expressing our solidarity while urging to peace and calmness. One day they will admit we were right. Our independence, our principles and our social achievements we will defend with honor to the last drop of blood, if we are attacked!

We are the same sons and daughters of that heroic people, with a patriotic and revolutionary conscience that is higher than ever. It is time for serenity and courage.

The World will grow aware of this and will raise its voice in the face of the terrible threatening drama that it is about to suffer. As for Cubans, this is the right time to proclaim more proud and resolute than ever:

Socialism or Death!  Homeland or Death! We will overcome!

National politics—WHERE ARE WE?

On the 25th Anniversary of our Republican status as a nation, I am sure that one would have preferred to have had the undisturbed opportunity to objectively evaluate where we have come from and what we have achieved since political independence in 1962 and republicanism since 1976. But instead of enjoying that privilege we have had the peace breached by acts of terrorism in New York and Washington and the drums of war against the perpetrators of those vicious, dastardly and murderous acts. Also, we have had here at home, we have had the quiet and tranquility of our honky dory existence disturbed by an almost everyday revelation of some new act of corruption - North West Regional Health Authority, National Petroleum Marketing Company, Caroni (1975) Limited, Trinmar’s South West Soldado Redevelopment, Maintenance Training and Security (MTS), T&TEC, Petrotrin, Whitehall Refurbishment, National Library, Tanteak - the list is so long and together we are talking about many, many millions of dollars here. And as if that were not enough talk about a $12m Kensington flat re-emerges with photograph and all. We heard of that since 1999 around the same time that one was questioning the rationale behind the construction of the Inncogen Power Plant and we remember then that the flat was said to have been acquired at a cost of three million pounds - the equivalent of $30 million (TT). But that is not all. We had heard too of another flat somewhere in Oxford and yet another multi-million property in Toronto and we thought that it had to be a heartless crook who would make O’Hollaran’s and Prevatt’s loot combined, look like savings in the longtime Penny Bank. And what is most annoying is the suggestion by those primordial and shameless twats in the party that it okay to be corrupt because them fellas had done it too. "Is we time now to tief." And the same vagabonds took offence to Transparency International ranking T&T - nay Trinidad at #31 in the pecking order of the World’s most corrupt countries—they should change that to read—’most corrupt Governments’. And to some it is most amazing that there would be doubts as to where $50,000 (US) of party contributions would have gone and to what use.

The Attorney General’s disclosures in the Budget debate are most instructive. One would think if one were driven to be unreasonable and even unkind that what we have here in control is not government but a cabal made up of Ali baba and a team of brigands. Has anybody checked how much food has been stolen from the mouths of the poor? How much has been denied public servants and ordinary workers by the extent of the corruption so far detailed and still being counted? And spokespersons for official society condemn the actions of the Petrotrin, Trinmar, LNG Construction and Drilling Contractor workers in defence of their job security and decent terms and conditions of employment?

Well, I’ll tell you what! We heed the advice of the Hon. A.G. that the Tanteak and Rum Distillery deals are null and void. We call for the immediate resumption of Tanteak’s operations and the re-engagement of all of those Tanteak Workers whom the Government / Clico Alliance recently sent home.

*Eighteen (18) Workplace Accidents in three (3) months (Jan. 05 to Mar. 06, 2001) at Atlantic LNG - some of which could have been fatal!

Safety Quote:

"….. Those who would give up essential liberty

Disturbing new evidence of a link between breast cancer and night work has been gathered by a Danish researcher.

The data show a 50% higher risk of primary breast cancer among 30—54 year old women who work night shifts in selected trades for at least half a year. The risk tends to increase somewhat in women who work nights long-term , according to researcher Johnni Hansen. Among women with over 6 years of employment in trades with predominantly night work, the risk of breast cancer is 70% higher than among women daytime workers in the same age range.

The study was based on Denmarks detailed registry of employment records, health records and population. The study looked at all 7035 Danish women who fulfilled all the following conditions: they had confirmed primary breast cancer, they were born between 1935 and 1959, they were aged 30-54 at the time of diagnosis and they had been in employment.

Each case was then matched against a ‘control’, who was a woman drawn at random from the files of the central population registry but whose year of birth was the same as the corresponding case. "Controls" were women who were alive, without cancer, and who had been in employment before the date of diagnosis of the corresponding case.

Women were considered to work predominantly at night if they had been employed for at least half a year in one or more of the trades in which at least 60 percent of the females respondent had night-time schedules.

MELATONIN DEFICIT?

Appropriate adjustments were made for other factors known to affect rates of breast cancer, such as socio-economic status, the number of children to which the women gave birth and the women’s age at the time of the births. The study also looked at alcohol consumption, which is a known risk factor for breast cancer.

Melatonin is produced naturally in the human body, where it helps to regulate body rhythms, sleep and possibly tumour growth. In women, it may also help to prevent overproduction of oestrogen. Concentrations of melatonin have been shown to inhibit the growth of human breast cancer cells.

The body’s reproduction of melatonin is regulated , via the retina of the eye, by the daily cycle of light and darkness. It is produced mainly at night. Thus a person who regularly stays awake all night under artificial lighting will produce less melatonin.

For complex reasons linked to the light/dark cycle, this melatonin deficit is unlikely to be made up by sleeping during daylight hours. Totally blind women known to have an approximately 50% lower relative risk of breast cancer than sighted women.

But whatever the causes of the higher breast cancer rates among night workers, the socio-economic effects could be very serious. Trade unions have long fought for full equality of opportunity at work, and women’s status in the workplace has improved significantly in most parts of the world as a result.

In recent years, these equality drives have included the opening of night work to women in a growing number of sectors, and the lifting of regulations that previously limited their access to these higher paying jobs. For many women workers around the world, night work is both an economic necessity and a step up the promotion ladder.

Breast cancer is by no means the only physical and psychological health risk faced by night workers - whether woman or man. And accident rates are significantly higher on the night shift than during the day. Also, it may be wondered if a melatonin deficit may not produce other ill-effects in men and women alike.

Lillian Knudsen is the President of the Danish Women Workers’ Union (KAD) - "Internationally, I have always insisted that women should work on an equal footing with men - at whatever time of day or night," Knudsen says.

"But this new report has made me nervous, because it would seem that, if we women can sleep in darkness, we produce a hormone that helps to protect us against breast cancer. But we’re not stupid. We know full well that some sectors - hospitals and care homes for instance - will always have to work right around the clock. And we must avoid creating a panic.

"Clearly though, more research is needed into this mechanism, so that we can find out how to design jobs better and minimise the risk of breast cancer."

While the internal crisis within the UNC deepens, with both sides – the Prime Minister/ political leader on the one hand and the Attorney General/deputy political leader on the other – visiting constituencies, the most significant event of the last week was the Independence March organized by the group of independent trade unions and NGOs.

A RESONANT SUCCESS

The media has been trying to downplay the march with references to "hundreds" of marchers. That reporting can only be meant to send a signal to the wider population that the march was not successful. Of course nothing could be further from the truth. The Police put the size at 5,000. Those of us involved in organizing the march felt it was between 5-7,000 strong.

There is no doubt that outside of Labour Day in Fyzabad, this was the largest march in the country for the last 8 years! The fact that 5-7,000 people decided that they would march the almost 8 miles from Mt. Hope to Woodford Square – and on a working day as well! – cannot be downplayed. More than that, after getting into Woodford Square after a three hour walk in the sun, the crowd did not dissipate. They stood for another 2 ½ hours to listen to addresses by the leaders of the organisations involved.

The breadth of the participating unions was also of significance. This was not just an activity by the unions that have historically been involved in the radical trade union movement. The Prison Officers Association and the Fire Services Association were there. The sugar industry was also there with contingents from TICFA led by Raffique Shah, the Sugar Industry Staff Association and the Association of Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Staff – both representing sections of Caroni’s workforce. Very much present too was the Contractors and General Workers’ Trade Union and the Seamen and Waterfront Workers’ Trade Union. Significant labour power was therefore demonstrated last Wednesday.

The march also generated a lot of popular support as it made its way into Port of Spain. People ran out of business-places and homes to see the marchers. They clapped, shouted words of support, punched the air with their fists and some spontaneously joined in as well. They knew the importance of the march. And those who saw it as it passed by no doubt have told others about it. The power of this march, the longest march that has been held for decades, cannot be hidden nor denied.

This says something about the mood of the people and their preparedness to intervene in the crisis. People came out to make a statement, to take a stand – against corruption and all the ills of governance that we now experience. Wednesday August 29^th was the first of a series of disciplined mass actions that are being organized by the independent trade unions and NGOs. The next will be on September 24^th – Republic Day. The specific form of this action will be announced shortly.

There is no doubt that the power of Wednesday’s march and the potential that it displayed has worried the political directorate and forced those trade union leaders who are in alliance (the Prime Minister’s term) with the government, to come out of their crease. The display by one such trade union leader on the morning of the march was absolutely shameless. But then later that evening the reason behind the timing of his comments became more evident – his union hosting the PM at a function required, no doubt, some effort to prove loyalty.

The Prime Minister responded accordingly with the comment that it was good to be in the company of trade union leaders "who he can trust". Trust to do what, one may ask. "Defend the party and government before defending the interests of workers and the country" would be the logical answer. This fundamental divergence of positions is the precise reason that NATUC collapsed and there is now a split in the trade union movement.

The hostility of the attacks by the Prime Minister and his defenders in the trade unions against the mobilisation of the independent unions is a direction reflection of the power behind Wednesday’s march and the Labour Day demonstration and Rally in Fyzabad two months ago. I have no doubt that Mr. Panday fears disciplined mass actions organized by the independent trade unions much more than he fears internal dissent in his party, even when such dissent is being led by as powerful an individual as his AG.

The reason is that Mr. Panday can always appeal to the core of the UNC support as the person who led them out of "bondage" and into the "promised land". He has done so twice – first as trade union leader when he moved sugar workers out of desperate poverty into some semblance of worker dignity. And then as political leader he moved them out of opposition where they had languished and into government. It is not easy for another person to get people to shift their loyalty away from the leader who has done all that. To do so would be to be ungrateful.

That is why when the Prime Minister tells supporters – "they can’t win their seat without the UNC", what he is doing is to tell them that "you can’t win without the financial and other resources that I can mobilize, but more importantly, you can’t win if I don’t personally endorse you". In other words, the UNC is Basdeo Panday and Basdeo Panday is the UNC. This is the political culture that Ramesh, Ralph and Trevor are claiming to try to change, but while they will chip away at the extent of the UNC’s support, even taking a sizeable chunk with them, they will not break it into pieces.

But it is when this chipping away of support from within occurs at the same time as the mass movement is growing that gives the political directorate real reason to worry. History has shown that mass movements have caused governments to be changed. The election results of 1986, 1991, 1995 bear testimony to this.

The problem however, is that a mere change of government is insufficient to bring about meaningful change. To use Mr. Panday’s own phrase – the people got exchange, not change. Can the movement bring about changes in the political rules and system – fundamental constitutional reform – this time around? Time will tell.

CLR JAMES CENTENNIAL CONFERENCE

"Global Capitalism, Culture and the Politics of World Revolution"

Despite the events of September 11th and the many sudden uncertainties surrounding air travel, this International Conference took off in full force. By September 20th, Foreign Delegates had arrived safely and together with the local contingent, the Conference began. In all about 350 persons attended the Conference.

After months of preparation, the life and times of Cyril Lionel Robert James became the focus of some seven (7) plenary sessions, with presentations by distinguished friends, relatives and close associates of the great son of the soil. During this marathon Conference held at The Learning Resource Centre, The University of the West Indies, fifteen (15) topics were discussed in panel sessions covering everything from Cricket, The Marxist Tradition and the Indo-Caribbean Experience to Revolutionary Thought, Post Colonial Theory, Pan-Africanism, Caribbean Politics, Modernity and Gender and Sexuality.

In what could be described as a celebration of our identity as foretold by CLR James, many walked away with ear-fulls of echoing philosophies, minds tickled by the insightfulness of this legendary philosopher and hearts full of vision based on the trip to the future by the ideas relived of a man from our past. It was an intensive four days (Sept. 20-23), which ended with renewed spirits and much gratitude for the well guided tour into the realms of CLR James.

As part of the opening days activities, there was a visit to the Grave site followed by a stop at the house where he spent most of his childhood, both of which are located in Tunapuna.

There were also brilliant audio-visual displays on the life, times and funeral of CLR James, set up by a cadre of youthful volunteers who were eagerly involved in almost all aspects of the planning and execution of the Conference activities. A major highlight was the Drama Presentations "Beyond A Century - Readings from James", put on by the Centre for Festival and Creative Arts, UWI. It is a production that demands many repeat performances.

The highlights of the conference proceedings included the launch of the book "Caribbean Thought" published by UWI.and the presentation of the CLR James Award by the CLR James Society. This time around, the coveted award went to Tim Hector, who was also here as a delegate.

Among the other dignitaries were Darcus Howe, Anthony Bogues, Pearl Springer, Martin Glaberman, Norman Girvan, Sam Weinstein, Richard Small, George Lamming, Aldon Neilson and Mrs. Selma James just to name a few.

Several Booksellers and Publishers took part in book displays whilst the conference also made available for sale, various pieces of memorabilia such as T-Shirts, Conference Bags, Pins and Books.

At this instance, the OWTU would like to thank all our comrades who volunteered their services in transporting delegates to and from their hotels, the conference and the airport.

Thanks go out to the many youth volunteers without whose help, we could not boast of a Conference well organized. We also thank the University of the West Indies and Brown University for collaborating with the OWTU in organising this conference.

Thanks to our Central Office Members of Staff who took up responsibility for many of the conference tasks, small and large alike.

Long live the voice of CLR James!

Long live the voice of the Labour!

DAVID ABDULAH ON 9 - 11

Tuesday September 11^th, will go down in history as another one of those days when everyone will remember where they were when they first heard the news about the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Thanks to the technology of our age, we all saw or heard (those of us who listened to radio could hear all that was happening thanks to the link with TV feeds) the vents as they happened. It was real time news reportinag and this made its impact all the more intense.

The loss of human life is always a cause for regret and sympathy. This is more the case when many people die suddenly and unexpectedly – in accidents or in natural disasters. And when innocent people die as a result of an act of aggression it is doubly worse since their sudden demise was not by way of a natural disaster - "an act of God" – or by an accident over which they probably had little or no control. Deaths of innocent people, civilians by acts of aggression are the direct result of a conscious and calculated decision by some person or persons.

I therefore, like most all over the world extend my own sympathy to the families and friends of those who lost their lives. And the action of the hijackers who flew the planes into buildings and especially a civilian target like the WTC cannot be condoned in any way.

But as the dust settles in Washington and Lower Manhattan, we need to do a serious examination about the why’s and wherefores of this of this terrible loss of human life. The US media has been reporting on virtually nothing else since Tuesday at 9.00 am. We have therefore had the scenes of the attacks and the drama replayed a thousand times since then. At first the images seemed even more dramatic and riveting than a Harrison Ford blockbuster (remember Airforce One?), but the way in which the US media is providing information and analysis is now very clearly a strategy, consciously developed or otherwise, for shaping the entire world’s understanding of the vents, of politics and of values.

Certainly we must not allow ourselves to fall into this trap. We must not willingly be converted by the Gospel according to CNN. To do so would be to uncritically accept that the US is all good and other people and countries and cultures and religions are all bad and evil. Indeed, we must reject the hypocrisy of the US government and the way in which history is being written according to the State Department.

All human life is of value, whether they are Americans working in the WTC or poor people living in Panama. Equally important are the lives of the millions of poor people who are dying the world over as a result of economic policies and arrangements that are to the benefit of US multinationals. How many of us remember the US military strike on Panama by President George Bush Snr.? That attack had as its objective the seizing of one man – Manuel Noreiga! Noregia was no saint, but he was a creature of the US. It was reported that he was in fact on the CIA payroll, and there is a strong view that he was somehow involved in the untimely death of the nationalist Panamanian leader General Torres.

But the US got vex by the fact that Noreiga turned on them, as did Saddam Hosein of Iraq who was their ally in the battle against Iran!, and so they had to get Manuel, just as they’ve wanted to get Saddam. The problem is that in the process a lot of innocent people have been killed. Now in the case of Iraq, there is no doubt that by Saddam invading Kuwait, the US needed no pretext to go to war, since war had already been declared by Iraq.

The attempt to punish Iraq by sanctions and the bombings of supposed military targets, for which little evidence is offered, is, however, quite another matter. Many innocent people have died as a result, children are malnourished and have been condemned to live lives that have been terribly devalued as a direct result of the conscious policy of the US. Yet there is no public outcry, no effort by the US media to portray these Iraqi citizens as the innocent victims of aggression or as people who have family and friends. They are merely collateral damage!

In the case of Panama there was no such excuse. The US Court wanted to try Noreiga, he refused to surrender himself and the US military went after him. In the process they bombed and burned many communities where poor Panamanians lived. On a visit to Panama a year after I myself saw large areas of wasteland where homes once stood and where people lived. Some estimate that as many as 20,000 innocent civilians died – four times that of last Tuesday - in that military action. But did the US media tell their story? Did the world stand in silence and grief for these poor people? Of course not.

They weren’t worth it, they were only "collateral damage". So too the people who were in the mental institution in St. George’s in 1983 when the US bombed that hospital. No tears for them. And what of the atom bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima? No military installations were targeted yet today we are constantly reminded of Pearl Harbour by the US media, even though Pearl Harbour was a naval base.

And what of the Palestinians? Are they not people too? Do they not also have the right to live in a land that they can call their home? And when Israel violates other countries territorial rights as they have done by illegally occupying the Golan Heights, why are they not compared with Saddam when he occupied Kuwait? And why has no action been taken - such as sanctions - by the international community, led by the US, against Israel when the Israeli government actively encourages Jewish settlers to build homes in the areas that have by treaty are to be handed over to the Palestinians?

The US position on sanctions has been motivated purely out of self-interest and has absolutely nothing to do with the defence of democracy or the adopting of a moral position. They were the last to get on board when countries were pressing for sanctions against apartheid South Africa, and turned a blind eye to the routine violations of those sanctions by US multinationals. After all, a country that institutionlised its own apartheid in the south until the mid 1960’s could not be expected to see Black South Africans as people, they were simply expendable, cheap labour that could be exploited for the maximisation of profit. And to impose sanctions would be to help the communists!

On the other hand, Cuba must be blockaded because it’s communist. Ironically, this fetish with communism saw the US supporting the Taliban against the then USSR when the latter country went into Afghanistan to seek its own national security interest. The US policy was - the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Well today that friend has now become the enemy, but nobody is telling the American people who died that many of these so-called terrorists were once financed and supported by their own government!

This way of seeing the world, only in terms of US self-interest is myopic and racist. It is clear that the US hasn’t changed its position as was evident by their walk-out of the UN conference on racism and xenophobia. Unfortunately the US government also does not seem to have learned from the experience of Tuesday’s attack. The actions were clearly targeted at the heart of what symbolizes American economic and military power and arrogance. In this regard the attacks were successful. Whether or not they succeed in forcing a change in US policy is another question. One thing is certain, however, and that is that the US has no moral right to tell me what is right and what is wrong!

OWTU’s Trinmar Branch Summer Vacation Camp 2001 was a tremendous success to say the least. The Camp was held for two (2) weeks at the Trinmar Clifton Hill Club from August 7th to 17th. Participation was overwhelming and the activities were embraced by the little minds with much exuberance and keen interest.

In what was an initial attempt at providing affordable, sensible options for the parents who work at Trinmar, children were treated to an array of mini-workshops, designed to instill the team spirit so sought after in today’s workplaces.

At the close of the camp, with their masterpieces on display, children were rewarded for their participation in various activities during a presentation. At right is a picture of our President General making a presentation to one of the campers.

This is an outstanding effort and a shining example of the talent and organizational skills that reside with our branch officers and other union members.

We applaud the Trinmar Branch for this initiative and pledge our support for future ventures in the same direction. We can only hope that these children do not someday fall prey to the evil doings of Corporate Trinidad and Tobago.

Too much advantage on Offshore Workers, enough is enough !! This has been the echo among all BP workers employed on Offshore Drilling Rigs since 1993.

The working arrangement of seven days on, seven days off to fourteen days on, fourteen days off, was changed unilaterally by the sub-contractors on instruction from AMOCO and workers were advised that the change would be temporary.

The Union resisted the change but Lennox Petroleum Services understanding workers need for employment intimidated their workers. The action on the part of the Company was not in keeping with the established principles of god industrial relations practices. The result is Cliffs, formerly Well Services Limited, followed the move initiated by Lennox Petroleum Services and the exploitation continues. Gulf Petroleum simply followed suite.

Workers employed with Cliffs were advised that the Company would lose their contract to Lennox Petroleum Services if they did not go along with the move initiated by Lennox Petroleum. The Workers are performing under duress. They are away from their families for a longer period and are not adequately compensated. As a result they have decided that Enough is Enough.

Lennox Petroleum Services in particular have master minded the wicked act perpetrated on the workers. In 1997 Amoco agreed to increase an offshore Bonus of $250.00 per 14 days hitch to $340.00. Cliffs implemented the increase. To date Lennox Petroleum does not even pay the $250.00 Bonus. The workers are being paid $230.00 and receive $190.00 per 14 days hitch after tax. Down right advantage. !!!!

The respective Collective Agreements provides for payment for work on Rest days which the Companies refuse to pay.

As a result, an Interim Agreement has been arrived at, and it stipulates the following:

This agreement to take effect September 18, 2001.

1.There be a Caretaker Government that would be comprised of all those members of the House of Representatives who:

2. That this Caretaker Government holds office for a period of not more than two years within which the following programme would be collectively implemented:

(a) The establishment of Commissions of Enquiry to investigate allegations of corruption with a view to implementing mechanisms that would ensure transparency and accountability in the government and state enterprises and to establish the evidence for the subsequent prosecution of any persons found to be involved in corruption

(b) The provision of all the necessary resources to ensure the integrity of the Electoral Lists and the charging of the Elections and Boundaries Commission with the responsibility to prepare a List that has integrity and to the satisfaction of all political parties and civil society.

(c) The passage of legislation to regulate campaign financing and ensure transparency with respect to donations to political parties.

(d) The reconstruction of all Boards of state enterprises and statutory bodies and state agencies in a manner that removes political party influence and Ministerial interference, and to ensure accountability of these bodies to Parliament. Such an objective can be achieved, for example, by the appointment of Board members who are the nominees of established, bona fide civil society organizations. In addition, all state enterprises, government departments and statutory bodies should be subject to spot audits by independent forensic auditors.

(e) A moratorium on the sale or lease of any state enterprise, statutory body or state agency or part thereof.

(f) A genuinely participatory process of review of all major government policies.

(g) Agreement on the need for a process of constitutional reform that is based, not on the establishment of a Constitutional Commission, but on the facilitating of the shaping of a constitution by the people through their civil society organizations.

3. On the basis of the above, for there to be new General Elections within two years or as soon as agenda items 2 (a), (b), and (c) are implemented, whichever is earlier. And, further, that the Local Government Elections scheduled for 2002 to be held only if there is in place the Electoral List that is to the satisfaction of the political parties and civil society as in 2 (b) above. 2001 October 8.