Joining a trade union

Q: Is it possible to leave one trade union and join another? If yes what is the process????

 

A: Section 71 of the Industrial Relations Act 1972, as amended:

Every worker as between himself, his employer and co-workers shall have the following rights, that is to say:

(a) the right to be a member of any trade union or any number of trade unions of his choice;

(b) the right not to be a member of any trade union or other organisation of workers or to refuse to be a member of any particular trade union or other organisation of workers;

All you need it do is stop paying your dues and find out what you need to do to join the other(s).

And if you’re out union shopping, remember to apply the same criteria as when selecting a lawyer (see post on good and bad lawyers).

Trinidad and Tobago Labour Board

Q: What kinds of matters does the Labour Board deal with?

A: There is no such thing as a "labour board" in Trinidad & Tobago. There is a Ministry of Labour with different units. For workers, the two main units would be the Labour Inspectorate Unit and the Conciliation & Labour Relations Unit.

• The LIU deals with issues regarding minimum wage workers.
  
• The CLRU deals with matters regarding any other aspect of employment. To an individual worker, their only purpose is to offer basic advice and direct you to a trade union.* The CLRU is the first stop for workers, but they can't offer any real help without the involvement of a union.

*You are welcomed to join our trade union: Trinidad and Tobago Workers' Association.

Trinidad and Tobago trade union

Q: Which trade union would you recommend that I join in Trinidad and Tobago?

A: Just like lawyers, choosing the wrong trade union will make getting justice almost impossible. And unfortunately, many trade unions make workers sign up just to get their dues by promising them all sorts of favourable outcomes, when in most cases they have no case. 

If you want a knowledgeable trade union executive team with strong legal background, and who isn't focused on ripping you off, the trade union that I would recommend is the Trinidad and Tobago Workers' Association.