About Us

At the Health & Allied Workers’ Union (HAWU), Collaborative Progress isn’t just a slogan it’s our guiding principle. We proudly stand as a voice for all workers across a broad spectrum of industries. While our roots lie in representing healthcare and allied professionals EMTs, Attendants, Radiologists, laboratory staff, pharmacists, and support teams—we believe that the fight for fair and just working conditions transcends any single sector.

We exist to protect, support, and advocate for workers’ rights, no matter their trade or profession. From healthcare workers to administrative staff, from skilled trades to emerging roles, our mission is clear: to ensure equity, dignity, and fair treatment for every worker.

About the Health & Allied Workers’ Union

Vision

A united workforce delivering exceptional healthcare through equitable treatment, robust representation, and continuous professional growth.

Mission

To safeguard the welfare, rights, and professional development of every healthcare and allied worker in Trinidad & Tobago ensuring fair employment conditions, safe workplaces, and world-class patient care.

Our History

Founded on 5 May 2025, the Health & Allied Workers’ Union (HAWU) began as a collaborative effort by seven healthcare professionals and labour advocates who recognised the need for a broad-based union that serves workers across many sectors. From day one, our goal has been to protect, support, and uplift every worker’s rights whether they serve in a hospital ward or an office suite.

5 May 2025: HAWU is officially established by:
- Dr Sean Pascall (Medical Director, Lifelong Healthcare)
- Dr Farique Cordice (Medical Officer, Eastern RHA)
- Kizzie Marsha Francois (Labour Relations Officer & Paralegal)
- Ray Baksh (Registered Nurse & Grievance Advocate)
- Dr Stacey Trim (Family Medicine & Primary Care)
- Dr Maria Lutchmedial (Mathematics, Chemistry & Family Medicine)
- Dr Jason Ettienne (Consultant Emergency Physician)

Since that first meeting in May 2025, HAWU has remained dedicated to building a united, empowered workforce. Our founding members continue to guide the union’s early efforts—shaping policies, educating members on their rights, and fostering strong relationships among workers across healthcare, administrative, and service industries.

Our Leadership Team

At the helm of HAWU is a group of committed healthcare and labour experts who guide our mission every day. Meet the individuals working tirelessly for workers’ rights, fair treatment, and collective strength across Trinidad and Tobago’s health sector.

Medical Officer (Eastern RHA) & Founding Member

Dr Farique Cordice, Medical Officer with the Eastern Regional Health Authority, is one of the founding members of the Health and Allied Workers Union. Coming from very humble beginnings, he now serves on the executive team of a union whose core mission is fighting for justice and defending workers’ rights with every fibre of their being. For years, he has witnessed colleagues—doctors, nurses, and support staff—being taken advantage of, victimised, exploited, overworked, and underappreciated, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed many injustices within our healthcare system.

Poised and prepared to tackle and eradicate these injustices, Dr Cordice considers himself radical, fearless, responsible, reliable, and a firm believer in fairness and equal treatment. He seizes every opportunity to educate colleagues and even patients about their rights and responsibilities as workers. His personal battles against the status quo stand as a testament to his resolute commitment to the education and empowerment of all healthcare workers.

His vision for HAWU is to act as a catalyst for change and to ultimately fashion a spirit of unification among workers across all health sectors.

Consultant Emergency Physician & Executive Member

Dr Jason Ettienne is a driven senior Consultant Emergency Physician with 16 years of experience as Head of Emergency at various Accident & Emergency Departments. He is an adept clinical instructor, serving as lead instructor in multiple life-support courses and lecturing for postgraduate emergency programmes. Over the decades, he has successfully trained a wide range of healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, medical and nursing students, and pre-hospital personnel.

Jason also brings proven hospital administrative experience—managing staff and facilities at multiple Regional Health Authorities—while promoting continuous quality improvement through evidence-driven analysis. Currently, he is Head of Emergency at the Port of Spain General Hospital, where he supervises day-to-day operations of the Accident & Emergency Department. Passionate about quality healthcare, he strives to create a learning environment for his team and to institute policies that enhance efficiency and ultimately improve patient care.

Labour Relations Officer & Union Advocate

With 4 years as a Labour Relations Officer and 18 years of paralegal experience, Kizzie Marsha Francois is a fierce defender of workers’ rights and a tireless advocate for justice in the workplace. Passionate about empowering union members, she leverages her deep legal expertise to negotiate fair contracts, resolve grievances, and hold employers accountable.

Key Union Contributions:
• Worker-Centered Advocacy: Committed to fighting injustice and ensuring fair treatment for all employees.
• Strategic Negotiations: Combines labour relations skills with paralegal precision to strengthen union positions.
• Trusted Representation: Dedicated to educating and protecting workers through transparent, action-driven leadership.

Kizzie believes unions are the backbone of workplace fairness—and she’s proud to stand with members in the fight for dignity, equity, and collective strength.

Medical Director, Lifelong Healthcare & Treasurer, HAWU

Dr Sean Pascall, MBA (Hospital & Health Sector Management), PG Dip. Emergency Medicine (UWI), MBBS (UWI), Dip. Industrial Relations (Cipriani Labour College), is a practising Emergency Medicine physician and the Medical Director of Lifelong Healthcare Ltd, a multidisciplinary clinic in Biche, Trinidad and Tobago. Driven by a passion for equitable treatment of healthcare workers, Dr Pascall played a key role in founding HAWU, where he now serves as Treasurer. His academic background in industrial relations perfectly complements his commitment to advocating for fair labour practices, collective bargaining rights, and stronger representation within the regional health authorities.

Dr Pascall envisions a unionized medical landscape where healthcare professionals are not just heard but are essential stakeholders in shaping the delivery of healthcare. He is an outspoken proponent of “collaborative progress” — a philosophy that unites workers, management, and government in the pursuit of better patient care through cooperation rather than conflict.

Registered Nurse & Union Advocate

I am Ray Baksh, a registered nurse and a committed advocate for the education and empowerment of healthcare staff, particularly in defending our human and employee rights which have been undermined for far too long. As a steadfast union ally, I have played a pivotal role in the amendment of the Nursing and Midwife Act, now the Nursing Personnel Act, ensuring stronger protections for nursing professionals.

I stand shoulder to shoulder with my comrades in the ongoing struggle against the continual erosion of workers’ rights and the devaluation of our profession, which is not only our livelihood but also a vital public service asset. Known among staff as a tireless champion for workers’ rights, I actively promote awareness of our legal rights, workplace privileges, and the laws that safeguard us. I am committed to providing clear, honest guidance—never offering empty words—to address staff grievances and correct misconceptions.

My union-oriented leadership is grounded in collective action, education, and unwavering support for the workforce, aiming to build a stronger, more empowered nursing community that can influence policy and workplace conditions for the betterment of all.

MD, Dip FM, Dip Derm & Executive Member

Dr Stacey Trim, MD, Dip FM, Dip Derm, is a dedicated medical professional with a strong foundation in patient care and clinical practice. Trained in Family Medicine and Primary Care, Dr Trim has built a career centred on compassionate, evidence-based medicine and community service.

In addition to clinical duties, Dr Trim serves as an executive member of HAWU, bringing a healthcare worker’s perspective to the broader dialogue on professional welfare and workplace rights. While relatively new to union leadership, Dr Trim is committed to learning the ropes quickly and advocating for fair, transparent, and supportive environments for all members.

BSc (Hons) Mathematics & Chemistry; MBBS; PG Dip Family Medicine & Executive Member

Dr Maria Lutchmedial holds a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics and Chemistry with a specialisation in Analytical Chemistry, an MBBS, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Family Medicine. With her unique analytical background and extensive medical training, Dr Lutchmedial brings a rigorous, data-driven perspective to both clinical care and union advocacy. She is driven by a strong sense of justice and tirelessly champions fairness and equity—upholding the values of integrity and advocacy within HAWU at every turn.

Her dedication to both her patients and union colleagues ensures that HAWU remains founded on education, transparency, and principled engagement in all decision-making.