PRESIDENT general of the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) Ancel Roget is calling on vaccinated and unvaccinated workers to report for work as normal even as policies are being worked on to make the public service and all Government offices safe zones where only vaccinated workers will be allowed to work.
Speaking on the steps of the Office of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs on Richmond Street, Port of Spain, on Tuesday, Roget and other union leaders reaffirmed their stance against mandatory vaccination for public servants.
Later on Tuesday, the Public Services Association (PSA) held a press conference where they also voiced opposition to mandatory vaccinations (see story below), while the National Health Workers Union was also opposed to the vaccine mandate for government workers. (See Page 8)
Roget was flanked by the representatives of the TT Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA), the Seaman and Waterfront Workers Union (SWWTU), the Bankers, Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU), the TT Postal Workers Union, the Registered Nurses Association, the Fire Officers Association and the Steel Workers Union of TT (SWUTT).
He accused Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi of not holding enough consultations with trade unions before finalising workplace policies.
A memorandum from the Ministry of Public Administration on Monday reported that under the government's policy, the public sector would operate as a "quasi safe zone" as of January 17, where the operation of organisations within the public sector (ministries, departments, agencies, authorities, corporations and companies) are to be conducted only by employees providing proof of vaccination or having the appropriate vaccination exemption.
Roget argued that companies refusing entry to unvaccinated employees would qualify as a breach of industrial relations and he told unvaccinated workers to show up for work as normal.
"Let them deny you entry into your place of work, and that will be tantamount to illegal lockout. The trade union movement and our legal team are waiting to deal with those issues.
"Do not set up yourselves by staying at home. Present yourselves to work.
"You are engaged currently under certain terms and conditions of employment and therefore that has not been renegotiated by your union and therefore you should go to work on the 17th (of January) and continue. Let the government lock you out from your place of employment," Roget said.
Referring to memos that were issued by the Maintenance Training and Security (MTS) Company Ltd and the T&T Electricity Commission (T&TEC) requesting vaccine information, Roget described both entities as "runaway horses" where a vaccine mandate was being introduced despite calls for dialogue.
He said any legislation requiring employees to provide proof of vaccination would interfere with other laws, including the Industrial Relations Act, the Retrenchment, Severance and Benefits Act, the Data Protection Act and the OSH Act, all of which guarantees certain provisions to a worker.
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