The decision whether the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) will be granted permission to march on Friday from Woodford Square to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has not been made as yet, acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams said yesterday in a telephone interview with the T&T Guardian. He said the recommendation from the officer investigating the application was expected to be received today.
Members of JTUM were confident they would be given permission. The Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union’s (OWTU) chief education and research officer, Ozzi Warwick, said yesterday: “Permission can come between today and tomorrow.” He said the movement “is almost sure” it would be granted permission and the movement “is not worried.” During his Labour Day address, president general of the OWTU and head of JTUM, Ancel Roget, called on trade unionists to march to the PM’s office to demand implementation of the workers’ agenda.
Yesterday, Warwick said mobilisation for the march was taking place in Siparia, San Fernando, Chaguanas, Port-of-Spain and elsewhere. Members of JTUM, which is composed of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions and Non-Governmental Organisations (Fitun) and the National Trade Union Centre (Natuc), will assemble at 1 pm at Woodford Square and then march to the OPM, St Clair.
The T&T Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) is also expected to take part.