During an announcement regarding their minifesto, the United National Congress (UNC) established their expansive Workers’ Agenda to guide a fundamental upgrade of worker rights and financial security. The Workers’ Agenda finalized through nine meeting sessions between major trade unions JTUM, OWTU, SWWTU, NATUC, and NUGFW constitutes a binding promise to re-introduce economic success to the working class.
Fair Wages and Secure Jobs
The central part of the UNC’s approach includes eliminating both the 4% and 5% mandated wage cuts for all public servants. The party leaders have committed to restore unfettered collective bargaining rights for workers by doing away with government wage restrictions.
The UNC leadership strives to carry out legislation for paying workers enough to support themselves and their families through a living wage system. The UNC has made addressing contract employment in public services a central focus as the party works to decrease its occurrence while offering permanent job protection to staffers.
Workers face two important objectives through the ongoing modernization of the Industrial Relations Act (IRA) as leaders work to enhance labour statutes toward improved worker benefits.
Strengthening Workers’ Rights
The Workers’ Agenda requires essential legal changes as one of its central elements. The UNC plans to revise the Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority (TTRA) legislation to establish union representation in order to enable workers in this sector to participate in labour negotiations.
The party has declared its dedication to accepting union applications for state company status through measures that match with International Labour Organization (ILO) provisions. Measures for protecting domestic employees are under consideration since they frequently become vulnerable targets for exploitation.
A pension system by contributions will be created for employees who earn minimum wage to provide them with monetary safety in their retirement years. The United National Congress aims to remove all taxes that affect retirement benefits and private pensions thus easing financial burdens on senior citizens.
Housing services, Healthcare provision and minimizing Cost of Living expenses for workers
Through joint work with labour unions the UNC aims to make HDC housing available to every member of the working class. Workers employed in the public sector will receive a better healthcare plan to achieve improved access to medical services. Even when existing collective bargaining agreements contain the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) workers will continue to have this essential benefit for financial stability against inflation and economic change.
Reopening Petrotrin and Strengthening Agriculture
Under the Workers’ Agenda one of the major pledged actions targets to bring back Petrotrin Refinery operations. The UNC government moves to revive Petrotrin as a solution to restore jobs and stabilize the economy after Petrotrin’s shutdown. The revival of this plant is seen to establish thousands of new positions while boosting Trinidad and Tobago’s self-sufficiency in energy.
The Union National Congress (UNC) directs its attention to both the energy sector and agricultural resources and food security enhancement. The party intends to increase land rights for farmers in order to provide agricultural workers with secure ownership of their land across the long term. The party plans to reinforce state agricultural agency support for farmers who need help with their local and international commercial goals.
The government carefully implements measures to decrease food import expenditures because improving domestic food production stands as their primary goal. To safeguard against praedial larceny the party will implement measures that protect farmers from theft incidents which can lead to financial deprivation.
A Vision for Equity and Empowerment
The Workers’ Agenda of the UNC represents a detailed economic plan which establishes worker respect as both a national principle and legal mandate. The UNC uses fair wage policies along with legal protection measures together with employment generation and economic revitalization initiatives to achieve economic justice in the country. Through this agenda the party declares itself as the protector of the working class by pledging to construct an equal and fortified economy for everyone.
