Annisette: Make law for union reps on state boards

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NATUC president Michael Annisette -

The National Trade Union Centre of Trinidad and Tobago (NATUC) president, Michael Annisette, wants legislation to ensure union representatives are included in the composition of state boards.

Speaking with Newsday, Annisette said: "Given the role that labour plays in this economy, we are major stakeholders."

His statement came as he defended its earlier call for union representation on state boards and rejected the notion that it may be a conflict of interest for the representatives to hold the position while affiliated with the recognised majority union (RMU).

"That argument is not only misleading but also runs contrary to international best practice and decades of proven evidence," Annisette said in a release on Friday.

"In Germany, for example, the principle of co-determination—where worker representatives sit on company and statutory boards—has been a cornerstone of industrial democracy and good governance. This model has delivered strong, stable, and competitive enterprises while ensuring that workers' voices are heard at the decision-making table. The German experience alone debunks the myth that worker participation in governance is a conflict of interest. Instead, it has been shown to foster transparency, accountability, and collaboration."

He said while the movement has had a presence in leadership, such as former trade union leaders Errol McLeod, Jennifer Baptiste-Primus and now Leroy Baptiste, becoming ministers of labour, "that is not something cast in concrete."

Annisette's release said the union maintains that good governance is not only about technical expertise, but also about institutional knowledge, legitimacy, and stakeholder inclusion.

"Who better understands the functioning, challenges, and opportunities of a state or statutory board than the very workers who keep these institutions alive and productive?

"To exclude worker representatives is to deliberately weaken governance by silencing those with the deepest lived knowledge of operations."

He said a "people-centred economic approach" cannot be mentioned while denying the very people, the workers, the right to representation in the governance of institutions that affect their lives, livelihoods, and national development.

"NATUC reaffirms its call for a partnership approach to governance—one that is collaborative, transparent, and rooted in the principles of co-determination, social dialogue, and tripartism. Workers are not outsiders to governance; they are central stakeholders. Their voices must be heard, and their representatives must have a seat at the decision-making table where policies are shaped and choices are made that directly affect their lives. If we are truly committed to building a just, inclusive, and sustainable Trinidad and Tobago, then workers must be recognised as equal partners in governance."

Annisette first made the call for more union representation on state boards during Labour Day celebrations two months ago in Fyzabad.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar also spoke at the rally and asked for patience. She said that labour representatives had already been placed on boards, with more to come, as 18 other boards were yet to be appointed.

“Those who think it’s taking too long, remember Rome was not built in a day."

Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) chief education and research officer Ozzi Warwick told Newsday he understands Annisette's position and agrees that labour representation on state boards are important. He said appointments have already been made, but was unable to list how many off the top of his head. Newsday understands three appointments have been made on the recommendation of the Oilfield Workers' Trade Union (OWTU) recommendation and some are still pending.

Warwick said there is some legislation in place to ensure unions sit at the table on tripartite boards, which include representatives from the employer and the government.

"For example recognition certification boards, minimum wages board, Cipriani College, NIB."

Former trade unionists Ernesto Kesar and Clyde Elder contested the election on a UNC ticket, taking the Point Fortin and La Brea constituencies from the PNM. They are now ministers in the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Public Utilities, respectively.

NATUC was among the unions which backed the UNC on the campaign trail for the general election.

He even fought off criticisms from THA minority leader Kelvon Morris weeks before the April 28 polls, saying unions had a right to be involved in politics.

"Historically, trade unions have played a vital role in political discourse and their involvement is both a democratic and social right," he said in a release on March 31.

Since the filling of board positions began, Annisette has also expressed concern over the lack of diversity among the members. It's a sentiment also expressed by the PNM.

“When I look at it, I wonder if we are living in Bangladesh or (New) Delhi.

“That’s all I can say," PNM chairman Marvin Gonzales said in a July 16 press conference.

Shortly after, Legal Affairs Minister Saddam Hosein denied the claim, saying: "Stop the race talk."

Below is a list of state board appointees according to media reports and other publicly available information.

Youth Training and Employment Partnership Programme (YTEPP) Ltd- August 22

Chair- Dr Maurice Jones

Deputy- Ryan Sebastian

Kerri-Ann Bailey

Shivanand Ramkhalawan

Rodney Stowe

Shaffik Mohammed

Whitney Stevenson-Hamlet

Jennifer Ramdhan

Lauren M. Ghoura

Issa Ibn Abrahim Ali

Darien Mohammed

University of TT- August 15

Chair- Prof Selwyn Cudjoe

Deputy Chair- Prof Chris Maharaj

Dr Fazal Ali

Dr Shivannand Maharaj

Valene Maharaj

Shastri Parsad

Amit Sooknanan

Liaquat Ali Shah

Steve Ouditt

Sherine Janglee-Mungal

Christine Bann

Dr Esther E Cruickshank

Indar Kanhai

National Petroleum (NP)- August 14

Chair- Arnold Ram

Celine Goslne

Imran Khan

Karlon Batchasingh

Shazeeda Khan-Mohammed

J-Lynn Roopnanne

Villiana Ramoutarsingh

Brian Heeraman

Nikisha Leander-McLeod

Ronell Prout

National Insurance Board- August 2

Chair- Judy Kalloo

Deputy chair- Zamanath Ali

Ramesh Ramdeen

Christopher Skreete

Avinash Maharajh

Shinelle Quinlan

Rachel Seebaransingh Maikhoo

Patricia Dookeeram

Neela Maharaj

Satie Maniram-Khodai

Point Lisas Industrial Port Development Corporation Ltd (Plipdeco)- July 25

Chair- Ramnarine Persad

Vanessa Kussie

Sieunarine Babwah

Karunaa Bisramsingh

Trevor Joseph

Mulchan Lewis

Ramchand Maraj

Sadia Mohammed

Marsha Padia

Rondell Parsotan

Jonathan Poliah

Indy Samaroo

Jeffery Sookram

National Lotteries Control Board- July 21

Chair- Ken Emrith

Mohanie Ramnarine

Clarence Jagroopsingh

Parasram Brian Maharaj

Adam Razack

Harandé Elie

Curley Kesar

Brenda John

Trinidad Petroleum Holdings Ltd (TPHL) Heritage Petroleum Ltd- July 7

Chair- Kurt Ramlal

Khalid Hassanali

Ronnie Sookoo

Richard Hansraj

Lincoln Dookhran

Kamini Ramraj

TPHL Guaracara Refining Company Ltd- July 7

Chair- Gowtam Maharaj (former OWTU member)

Marisa Ramsoondar

Raymond Surujbally

TPHL Paria Fuel Trading Company Ltd- July 7

Chair- Nyree Alfonso

Geeta Ragoonath

Christopher Jackman (former OWTU Paria branch president)

Kent Ramlal

Palo Seco Agricultural Enterprises Limited (PSAEL)- June 24

Chair- Danny Maharaj

Deputy- Rajiv Chaitoo

Shanty Boodram

Ambereesh Ram

Neil Ramsingh

Caribbean Airlines- June 24

Chair- Reyna Kowlessar

Deputy- Videsh Praim

Sharlene Maharaj

Selwyn Cudjoe

Amit Krishan Mahabir

D. Adam J. Moss

National Gas Company- June 19

Chair- Gerald Ramdeen

Ramnarine Bedasie

Nazim Sarjad

Dr Rampersad Motilal

Samantha Surujbally

Darren Mitchell

Dr Ahmad Khan

Estate Management and Business Development Company Ltd (EMBD)- June 18

Rahendra Seemungal

Lester Chariah

Darren Garner

T&TEC- June 18

Chair- Anil Kamal

Raymond Cozier

Ravita Babwah

Kevin Gurbani Beepath

Curtis Boodoo

Dana Mahase

Roshan Tota Maharaj

Taramatie Mongroo

Gerrard Small

Anil Bhagowtie (former OWTU Pointe a Pierre branch president)

TSTT- June 11

Chair- Kern Dass

Randy Ramtahal

Nadira Prabhudial

Cassilina Kelshall

Kyle Maloney

Udecott- June 9

Chair- Shankar Bidaisee

Deputy- Peter Kanhai

Dr Robelto Osborne

Hema Soondarsingh

Omkarnath Supersad-Maharaj

Indira Bansee

National Maintenance, Training and Safety Company Ltd (MTS)- June 9

Chair- Adrian Barran

Mitchell Ramcharan

Natasha Bachan

Terry Ram

Sunilal Baboolal

Daniel Nancoo

Kareem Baird

Giomar Rodriguez-Martinez

Nigel Moses

WASA- June 5

Chair- Roshan Babwah

Deputy- Dr Maurice J. Hoyte

Tawari Tota-Maharaj

Chaitram Brown

Kern D. Saney

Naveen Maraj

Indra Mohammed

Patricia Herry

South Western Regional Health Authority (SWRHA)

Chair- Anil Gosine

Natasha Moonilal

Dr Anand Chatoorgoon

Kathryn Gookool-Seepersad

Roland Hall

Sinanan Dass

Natasha Richardson

Mark Saunders

Karmesh Sharma

North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA)

Chairman- Dr Tim Gopiesingh

North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA)

Chairman- Prof Hubert Daisley