President of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) Joseph Remy has described the laying off of 600 workers from ArcellorMittal, “as a direct and brazen attack on trade unions in T&T.”
He also expressed solidarity with the dismissed steel workers and their families, “two weeks and some days before Christmas by a foreign entity.”
Steel workers president Christopher Henry said yesterday the matter had been placed in the hands of the union’s lawyers.
Remy criticised the Point Lisas-based Indian steel giant’s action saying: “A multinational would have taken action to disrupt the lives of locals and we would continue to accept these things because we keep saying we are a global village.”
“We are a sovereign state and as such one must stand up in defence of the working class of T&T.”
He said the layoffs took place in spite of the assurances given by Finance Minister Colm Imbert that no action would be taken against workers.
Remy insisted that the working class and ordinary citizens should not be held responsible for the current economic morass and should not be the ones having to carry the burden of any adjustments based on statements made by Central Bank Governor Jwala Rambarran about T&T being in a recession.
“If they attack the heart of the union and its membership then it debilitates the ability of the union to engage in progressive trade union action to benefit the workers,” he added.
On Monday, ArcellorMittal served notices to some 600 workers, all members of the Steel Workers Union of T&T. The company says the number of workers affected was 480.
The steel company said the over-supply of steel in the international market and the drying up of orders for its DRI and steel products produced at its Point Lisas plant has led to this temporary shutdown of its operations.
The company said the global steel industry, including ArcellorMittal, is experiencing its worst recession in ten years and it had no choice but to react to these changes in the industry by sending home the workers.
The workers were sent home with $2,000 “as an act of goodwill” by the company, as payment for the period December 7 to January 15 next year.