Impromptu NTUCB Protests Keep Government Under Pressure

The NTUCB says the government’s answers are dismissive and unsatisfactory, but is the union movement ready to step up the pressure? President Ella Waight says members will continue staging impromptu demonstrations and public-awareness campaigns to keep their concerns in the spotlight. For now, however, the congress says the situation does not warrant a national protest, at least not yet.

 

Ella Waight, President, NTUCB

“Because we feel the letter was dismissive, I think this government who keeps stressing the fact that the PUP was built on the labor movement, given the opportunity to be where it is at because of the workers of this country, should have more respect for the labor unions of this country, should have much more willingness to work for the labor unions of this country, because we represent the very workers that voted for them. I want to stress a very important fact, because we hear it in the public domain, that the NTUCB and the unions want to break up the government, and if they want to make demands on the government they should put their names on the ballot. That is not what the NTUCB is about. The first and main purpose is to advocate for workers’ rights. But because we also know that whatever happens in this country, whether it be good or bad, affects the workers of this country, we have to take up national issues, so it benefits the workers we have, that we represent. So this negative concept of having to say the NTUCB is here to destroy the government, that is not what we are doing.”

 

Waight says the NTUCB is consulting with social partners to formalize its next steps, arguing that planned, sustained and decisive action will keep greater pressure on the government than a one-day national protest.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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