National Trade Union Centre (NATUC) General Secretary Michael Annisette says the Government must agree to rotate the chairmanship of the National Tripartite Advisory Committee (NTAC) as a condition for the return of trade unions. Speaking with Guardian Media on Tuesday, Annisette said he was aware of the call by Industrial Court president Deborah Thomas-Felix for trade unions and Government agencies to join in tripartitism.
However, Annisette said Thomas-Felix noted that there must be genuine discussions, which he said were absent during their involvement in the process.
“We are willing to walk back in the morning, provided that an objective criteria are met,” Annisette said.
Annisette said NATUC submitted a list of conditions for a return to the NTAC, which included a demand for genuine discussions and a rotation of the chairmanship.
However, there was no response to a list of conditions that NATUC published in the newspapers.
“If we are equals, the chairmanship cannot and must not be at the behest of the Government only. It demonstrates silo thinking, and it really does not speak to the tripartitism as equal partners.
“If we are equal partners, which we have to be, then the rotation of the chairmanship must be critical.”
Annisette said the trade unions decided to leave NTAC because it the experiences. He said there was no genuine tripartitism, which they recognise as a pillar for social justice.
He said the discussion at NTAC did not address the concerns of the trade union movement.
While there were discussions on issues the unions raised, he said there were no substantial changes for the public’s benefit.
It included wage negotiations, and although they got support from employers and business representatives, it did not redound to any meaningful action.
“Because here we are in 2022, still arguing at the table over a two per cent over eight years and now, a four per cent over six years. Are you aware that even the Petrotrin issue we attempted to raise at NTAC? We were advised by the powers that be that it was not for NTAC.”
He said there was no implementation of policies for issues surrounding COVID-19, like protection for vulnerable workers and special sick leave for those who fell ill. Some argued that workers would abuse the sick leave provision. However, Annisette said they painted workers with a broad brush. He reminded the public that it was not the first time the trade unions walked away from NTAC.
They did so after the Ministry of Tourism began restructuring the Tourism Development Company without dialogue.
He added that NATUC wants the Government to share relevant data. However, some ministers who were part of the council did not attend meetings.
Meanwhile, the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) has not changed its position on NTAC. JTUM General Secretary Ozzi Warwick said it stands by the April 28 media statement issued by the Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGOs (FITUN). FITUN stated that the NTAC was “dead” and that the Government sought to use it as another body controlled by the Cabinet. FITUN said it was sure that the Government wanted to use the NTAC to control the entire trade union movement while continuing an anti-worker and union-busting agenda.
