00:00All hands on deck for a better Trinidad and Tobago.
00:03It's the rallying call of a number of trade unions who continue to reiterate
00:07that this country's trade union movement is stronger and more unified than ever.
00:12In a media conference today, the unions are refuting the government's labeling
00:16of yesterday's budget as a people-centered approach.
00:21Comrades, citizens, national community, we all witnessed a budget yesterday
00:29that from my viewpoint was full of hype.
00:36It was a budget of showmanship, but it was a budget of little for the working class.
00:47Very little for the working class.
00:49General Secretary of the National Trade Union Center of Trinidad and Tobago, Natuk,
00:54Michael Aniseth, says while his union recognizes the government's stated commitment
00:59to economic development and social protection, diversification,
01:03and improving citizens' quality of life,
01:06the trade union movement will judge the budget on a few key factors.
01:11Natuk maintains that the true measure of a people-centered budget
01:16is not the volume of expenditure announced,
01:21but the extent to which its policy improves the daily lives of workers, pensioners,
01:30unemployed persons, and their family.
01:33Economic growth must translate into decent jobs,
01:39fewer wages, stronger purchasing power, improve public service,
01:48and greater social justice.
01:51Secretary-General of the Communication Workers' Union says a true people-centered budget
01:56must answer specific questions.
02:00A people-centered budget must answer five fundamental questions.
02:05One, does it protect existing jobs and create decent, sustainable employment?
02:12Two, does it restore workers' purchasing power through fair wages and timely collective bargaining?
02:20Three, does it strengthen social protection, pensions, and national insurance system?
02:26Four, does it protect workers against retrenchment, exploitation,
02:31unsafe working conditions, and technological displacement?
02:35And last but not least, five, does it respect collective bargaining,
02:40trade union recognition, consultation,
02:43and the institutions responsible for industrial justice?
02:47The union leaders are appealing to all trade unions and their members,
02:51as well as workers who have been placed on the bread line
02:53to join them for a solidarity march on October 30th in Port of Spain.
02:57The unions present at today's conference made it abundantly clear
03:02that all trade unions are invited to march for a better TNT,
03:06even the ones who seem to be aligned with the government.
03:10Dominic Ramroop, TV6 News.
