PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC):

A labour union call for workers in Trinidad to embark on a "Day of Reflection" yesterday was met with mixed results after a major trade union failed to back the effort and the government indicated that the action was politically motivated.

But David Abdullah, president of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGOs (FITUN), one of the two umbrella trade union organisations that made the call, said he was satisfied "with the very good response overall". FITUN and the National Trade Union Centre (NATUC) had called the one-day action to protest high food prices, rising crime and violence and soaring inflation.

"I think it has been good. I think the traffic on the east-west corridor was significantly reduced and also in Port of Spain," Abdullah told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), adding that there had been "good support" from businesses and people in central and south Trinidad.

General secretary of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA), Peter Wilson, told reporters that there had been excellent support from teachers with as many as 70 per cent staying away from classes.

But the action by the unions was hampered by the welcome home activities organised by the Patrick Manning government for athletes returning from the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Many persons flocked to the Piarco International Airport and lined the streets leading to the capital as the government began four days of celebrations in honour of the athletes' silver medal performances.

President of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Ian Collier, said that the industrial action had been 'sporadic'.

"We have not had calls by our members that they had been seriously impacted,Ó he said.