11 August, 2009
ICEM Latin America/Caribbean affiliate Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) of Trinidad and Tobago was proud to have ICEM President and National Union of Mineworkers (South Africa) President Senzeni Zokwana keynote its 24-25 July Delegates Conference. Over 300 militant OWTU members attended the conference inside the proud union’s headquarters in San Fernando, with OWTU terming opening day and Zokwana’s keynote a “momentous occasion.”
His theme was “The Only Way Out of the Global Economic Crisis: an Independent Workers’ Agenda and Solidarity Actions.” Comrade Zokwana highlighted the need for independent trade unions to engage political activism and collective mass action in solidarity with workers everywhere. He also addressed the necessity for unions to fight hard to always retain the right to strike and other protests.
Ancel Roget and Senzeni Zokwana
“Your conference is taking place at a critical time when the global political economy is facing major challenges,” said Zokwana. He added that the crisis has sent sharp signals to trade unions and citizens in the developing world “that capitalism as a system cannot deliver.”
The Delegates’ Conference also reviewed the OWTU’s Report of the General Council, which confirmed that the country’s most powerful union, led by General President Ancel Roget, is continuing OWTU traditions of placing workers’ interests first on the agenda of Trinidad and Tobago.
The conference ended on a high note on 25 July with delegates’ expressing full commitment to OWTU’s “Rescue Mission,” a programme whereby the OWTU lends solidarity to all workers in struggles, with a series of community meetings held in areas affected by employer neglect and labour strike.