Port workers back out; UNC MPs split over court ruling

Lead Editor – Newsgathering

kejan.haynes@guardian.co.tt

Port Authority workers went back to work yesterday, albeit “discouraged and demotivated,” one worker described it, as they complied with an Industrial Court order, preventing them from taking any further industrial action.

Port workers have been playing a cyclical cat-and-mouse game with the authority, going to work, clearing the backlog created by their previous actions, but then taking industrial action almost immediately after, creating a new backlog. But with a court order looming over their heads, Port Authority officials hope for normalcy in the foreseeable future.

“We need to remain optimistic,” said Port Authority Chairman Lyle Alexander in an interview with Guardian Media yesterday. “The court has said what it has said. The workers now have to work. So let’s just see how it turns out.”

Alexander confirmed normal operations yesterday in all areas. He said vessels were being serviced, and there were deliveries of containers, exports, and imports. The sheds were open as well.

SWWTU President General Michael Annisette declined calls from Guardian Media and didn’t respond to WhatsApp messages.

The port returning to normal operations was welcomed by the Chaguanas Chamber of Commerce and the Couva/Point Lisas Chamber of Commerce who said the recent impasse caused widespread disruptions and financial strain on its members, stakeholders, and the broader business community.

The chambers called on the Port of Port-of-Spain to provide rent waivers for containers and cargo that remained unprocessed during the period of non-operation.

They said this time of the year is particularly critical for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which rely on the heightened business activity during the holiday season to recoup losses sustained during slower periods.

“While we acknowledge the efforts of the relevant authorities to address the concerns of workers and restore normal operations, the impact of the shutdown has been overwhelming, highlighting the urgent need for a long-term solution to prevent such occurrences in the future,” the release read.

UNC MPs divided on Industrial Court ruling

Meanwhile, MP for Chaguanas West Dinesh Rambally, who is also a former industrial court judge, urged both PATT and SWWTU to jointly request court-mediated discussions.

He described the Industrial Court as being “fiercely independent” with “expert judges” who can mediate.

“Dialogue is always preferable to protracted conflict, especially when the stakes are so high for businesses, workers, and citizens alike,” Rambally said. “The disruptions at the port are not just a labour issue—they are a national issue. Thousands of small businesses and livelihoods across the country depend on smooth operations at the port, especially during this critical holiday season. Prolonged instability will have ripple effects, threatening supply chains and economic recovery.”

However, his UNC colleague, Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh, called the ruling “high-handed”, “undemocratic”, and “an attempt to deflect from the real source of failure.”

“Government’s decision to file an injunction against the protesting workers–rather than honour the commitment of a 12 per cent increase–is more than a slap in the face of workers; it is an assault on the labour movement across the country. It is also an attempt to weaponise the Industrial Court,” Indarsingh claimed.

The Industrial Court will hear the case again on December 6.

­—With reporting by Shastri Boodan

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