LIAT strike was Back-to-Front
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- Parent Category: Aug 2011
- Category: Week ending Aug 13th, 2011
- Published on Sunday, 14 August 2011 18:09
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Editorial
The entire English-speaking Caribbean for the most part can be described as union-infested - a factor, which discourages genuine investment and further opportunities for our people through much, needed economic stimulation. The militancy of these unions whose leaders love to flex their muscles locally as if to establish themselves as demi-gods and power houses at the time gets broadcast live and direct to the entire world as a result of modern technology.
In most, if not all of the cases anyone looking on can see that they are so caught up in the rancour that they lose sight of the fact that they are sending the wrong message abroad and damning the chances of their representative jurisdictions for much needed investment so that their many unemployed members may find worthy employment.
Unions must realise that employment takes place when suitably qualified people successfully apply to offer their service in the interest of customers in exchange for an agreed sum, whether hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly.
Businesses operate purely on a symbolic relationship between “Labour” and “Capital”. No party is more important than the other - in that a small owner managed outfit that does not depend on employees cannot function in the absence of the established paradigm. Representatives of Labour need to shift focus from making demands on behalf of their members as if they were the only things that matters. This is a 50/50 relationship - so each must operate with balance.
“Unions” must appreciate that “Capital” in most parts of the earth is hard to come by in these challenging times. Their current behaviour can make the thinking man feel that the militant representatives of labour are either living on the moon or below a rock.
Things are already hard and everyone must make every conscious effort to live within their means. Employees must be told as a means of reinforcement (by their unions) of the importance of delivering an honest day’s work in return for an honest day’s wage.
It is quite understandable that some employers leave much to be desired in terms of their modus operandi. The symbiotic relationship between “Labour” and “Capital” must be based on the 50/50 nature of their existence to be a success. Employees need to be compensated fairly for their output - remembering that the more one puts in is the more one is likely to get back in return.
Employers/Capital/Investor (call them what you will) are entitled to a profit (reward for risk taken) so that the continued existence and possible expansion of their businesses could be assured. This growth through “profits” method further assures the employees of continued gainful employment. In our small economy, many of our local employees are content to be paid for showing up. There are others who work hard enough to keep them from getting fired while there are others again who are paid just enough to keep them from quitting.
All of the foregoing was outlined in order to preface our comments and reflections on the recent ill-conceived industrial action by LIAT workers at the Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA) ably led by none other than Mr. Militancy, himself - Senator Chester Humphrey of the powerful Technical & Allied Workers’ Union (TAWU).
What was achieved at the end of the day? Was it worth maiming an already fragile micro-economy like ours at a time when an influx of visitors could have given us the stimulus we really needed so that more people could have a fighting chance at life?
Generally, our hotels do not do well for Carnival as most of our visitors during that period are Grenadians returning home to spend time with family and friends. But the very few genuine tourists who were trying to come in to make good on their reservations had to redirect themselves to other sister CARICOM island states. True Blue Bay Resort and Grand Beach are just two properties that can corroborate this bold statement.
Interestingly, some of the people who stuck it out and ended up making their way from Barbados and Trinidad to Grenada - were forced to spend money in those countries while they waited to come here. The New Today is clear that Sen. Humphrey dropped the ball on this one as there was no patriotic strategy in his reaction to LIAT on behalf of his members.
If the goodly Senator really cared about Grenada as he is perceived to be in some quarters, he would have taken a broader view and take strike action immediately after the Carnival, so that the people we lost for the Carnival who had problems to get here and stuck it out - would have been trapped here to spend that much needed money in Spice country.
Look at the impact the volcanic ash cover over most of Europe earlier on this year had on our tourism industry. The European visitors got trapped here and more revenue was generated for our hotels and the local tourism industry.
This back to front approach by Sen. Humphrey and TAWU stymied the economic stimulus many expected around this time of the year - all for the sake of the Senator flexing his muscles for a handful of LIAT workers no matter how deserving was their cause. The issue of the workers’ right to strike and stand up for their rights is not in question here at all. What is in question is the method of the TAWU President-General which renders him in our view as out of touch and heartless.
It is this kind and level of mindless militancy that continues to discourage further foreign direct investment into “union-infested” environments like ours. The word about us on the international arena is already not so good and to add this level of mindless union militancy as showcased recently through the Internet by the Senator flexing his muscles will continue to keep Grenada’s prospects for genuine development low to non-existent.
Suffice it to say, most, if not all of his unemployed union members are likely to remain in their new found positions (unemployed) on account of this kind of continued unenlightened leadership.
Think about it Senator Chester!!!
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