PORT OF SPAIN – In a remarkable display of labor advocacy, Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) members staged protests outside PriceSmart’s Trinidad outlets on December 19, demanding basic seating accommodations for cashiers rather than traditional wage-related benefits. The demonstration highlighted a 15-year unresolved struggle that has left over 100 local cashiers standing throughout their eight-hour shifts while their counterparts in Jamaica and Barbados enjoy seated positions.
Union officials presented disturbing health implications stemming from the prolonged standing requirement. Second Vice President Reesa Ramlogan-Jodha detailed numerous cases of chronic back pain, varicose veins, and even pregnancy complications among cashiers. “Having to leave the workplace in pain should not be required as evidence of a productive day,” she asserted, emphasizing concerns about long-term mobility issues that could force workers to “be walking around with sticks” in their senior years.
The conflict has now reached Trinidad’s Industrial Court as an official trade dispute, though progress remains stalled. First Vice President Sati Gajadhar-Inniss revealed that PriceSmart has failed to submit required evidence or arguments, pushing the next potential hearing to March 2026. The company maintains that without specific legislation mandating seating, no obligation exists to provide such accommodations.
PriceSmart’s corporate stance suggests seating might interfere with cashiers’ ability to handle merchandise—a position the union characterizes as lacking compassion. Ramlogan-Jodha countered, “The issue of seating should not be a matter of law. It is a matter of choice and all it calls for is some heart.”
This labor dispute emerges against the backdrop of PriceSmart’s substantial financial success. The American retailer reported $1 billion in fourth-quarter revenue for fiscal 2025 with $31.5 million net income, culminating in annual revenues approaching $5.27 billion. The company continues expanding its global footprint of 56 warehouse clubs, recently acquiring properties in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic for new locations set to open in mid-2026.
OWTU officials plan to extend their advocacy campaign to all PriceSmart branches across Trinidad. Meanwhile, attempts by Newsday to obtain comments from PriceSmart’s human resources and industrial relations departments on December 19 proved unsuccessful, with managers at multiple locations declining to address the concerns.