Union to Picket Labour Office

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Monday, 23 April 2012 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St John's - The Antigua Trades and Labour Union is planning a picket demonstration on the Labour Department on April 27.

The move comes after weeks of talks and, most recently, a meeting with the Antigua and Barbuda Trade Union Congress (ABTUC) on what the AT&LU labels as the tardy current state of affairs at the Department.

Also, it is being mulled that the Labour Department and the labour minister could be excluded from the 2012 Labour Day rituals.

“The time has come for public awareness and pressure to be brought to bear on this most vexing matter,” the union said.

In a letter to President of the ABTUC Kim Burton, the AT&LU said it has taken notice of the situation at the Labour Department for some time, and the manner in which it handles intervention and resolution matters.

The union grumbled to the Congress that it was particularly concerned that getting matters heard at the board level had been taking “unreasonably long periods”. Reports from the matters that have actually been heard, in some cases, have been delayed for periods over 12 months.

“These matters are further complicated in many cases by the poor quality of the reports, which at all times do not in any way reflect what was actually discussed,” the union said.

“Our concerns have been raised at all levels within the Labour Department, including in writing to the Hon Minister Dr Errol Cort. We have seen no improvement, but rather deterioration in the situation.”

The union considers the situation to have crippling effects on workers’ rights and their quest for “justice and fairness”.

Former AT&LU shop steward within State Insurance Corporation (SIC) and now industrial relations officer at the Antigua and Barbuda Free Trade Union (ABFTU) Dave Joseph spoke on the subject weeks ago.

He said on Sunday that with Labour Day on the horizon, it was hoped that the Labour Department, or even the Labour minister, would be excluded from the Labour Day celebrations.

“With all due respect, I am hoping that the TUC does not invite the minister of Labour or representatives from the Labour Department to speak on its platform on Labour Day,” Joseph said.

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He said such an invitation would show “great disrespect” for the members the unions represent.

“How could you invite people to speak to workers on Labour Day when these same persons are responsible for workers cases being held up for long period of time at the Labour Department?” he asked.

The industrial relations officer opined that the time has come for workers' representatives and workers' organisations to get serious in Antigua & Barbuda, and not let the possibility of subventions cloud their vision.

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