Who is popular today?

MEMBERS of the private-sector arm of the National Tripartite Advisory Council (NTAC) have reaffirmed their commitment to remain in the council, even though the trade union sector has withdrawn its membership.
In a release signed by six members representing several business chambers, the members said they took note of the reasons given by the trade unions for withdrawing from the NTAC, but remain hopeful that differences can be resolved so all parties can return to the tripartite process.
On March 10, the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM), the National Trade Union Centre (NATUC) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions (FITUN) announced they were leaving the NTAC, which was formed in 2016 to facilitate engagement, dialogue, and consultations between government, the private sector and labour.
NATUC vice president James Lambert, speaking at a press conference to announce labour's departure, claimed the government had shown the labour movement gross disrespect.
The labour heads also claimed thousands of workers have been laid off by government although labour was supposed to have a voice in the NTAC. They also said no legislation to further protect workers' rights was laid in Parliament even during the life of the NTAC.
That labour press conference on March 10 was attended by NATUC general secretary Michael Annisette, president Watson Duke and Lambert, as well as JTUM president Ancel Roget and FITUN president Joseph Remy.
Annisette said at that press conference, “After long, mature, and insightful debate, we have concluded that the role of the federations in NTAC, which advises the Prime Minister, is serving no purpose for the trade union movement and the working class.”
The union leaders also announced plans to form a merger among themselves to represent workers better, especially in light of the pandemic, which has seen many workers having to take pay cuts, being furloughed and in some cases, laid off.
In its press release on Wednesday, the private-sector arm of NTAC admitted that multi-sectoral collaboration is never easy.
"In fact, it is usually extremely complicated. We continue to believe in the importance and value of good-faith dialogue. We remain ready and willing to continue to engage in such discussions as we seek to develop consensus around issues of national concern and development," the group said in the release.
Signing on behalf of the private-sector arm of NTAC in the Wednesday press release were: Amcham TT CEO Nirad Tewarie; Energy Chamber CEO Dr Thackwray Driver; deputy chairman of the Tobago Division of the TT Chamber Curtis Williams; TT Chamber CEO Gabriel Faria; TTMA CEO Dr Mahindra Ramdeen; and chairman of the Employers' Consultative Association Keston Nancoo.
The post Private sector recommits to tripartite council appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.