Escalation likely in TAWU/GBL dispute

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Parent Category: Jan 2012

Category: Week end Jan 14th, 2012

Published on Sunday, 22 January 2012 15:34

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The Seamen and Waterfront Workers Union (SWWU) has decided to get involved in the current impasse between the Technical & Allied Workers union (TAWU) and the Grenada Breweries Limited (GBL). According to well-placed sources, SWWU President, Lyle Samuel has written to the management of the local brewing company urging it to immediately return to the bargaining table with TAWU in an effort to settle the dispute and for the locked-out workers to return to the job.

The Seamen are seen as crucial to TAWU’s attempt to block efforts of GBL to import containers of drinks into the country due to the ongoing strike.Speculation is rife that the Ansa Mc Cal Group of company that owns the majority of shares in GBL is prolonging the strike in order to try and deliver “a deadly blow” to the powerful leader of TAWU, Senator Chester Humphrey.

The union is said to have spent in excess of EC$100, 000.00 on the worker since the strike action started nearly a month ago. In recent days, TAWU has been signaling its intention to escalate the industrial situation in the country by calling on workers in other sections of the economy to engage in acts of solidarity with the brewery workers.

The union, which represents the estimated 125 GBL workers, is claiming that the employees are locked out by the company. TAWU is also angry over a letter that was sent by the breweries to Labour Commissioner Cyrus Griffith about the approach it will take in reinstating the workers.

The letter dated January 3, and signed by Preston George, Head of Industrial Relations for the beverages sector of GBL said the company anticipates that conditions necessary to satisfy its governance, health and safety requirements, as well as the legal and other responsibilities which are expected can be undertaken within a two or three-week period. TAWU’s boss, Sen. Humphrey has been calling for immediate re-instatement of the workers as a condition to returning to the bargaining table to settle all outstanding issues.

Speaking to reporters at a news conference last week Wednesday, he warned that the industrial impasse now has the potential for a serious deterioration that will significantly affect the lives of everyone in the country. Sen. Humphrey said the nation needs to know that the union has exercised every patience and caution in the situation.

However, he was not forthcoming in stating what approaches the union will take in trying to pressure GBL to reinstate the workers immediately. “What the media and the public can anticipate is an escalation in these events, and the union is preparing for this escalation and that’s the most I can say on that, to say that the situation has taken a further turn for the worst by the company’s refusal to return the workers to work,” he remarked.

The union boss said TAWU has abided by a December 22nd agreement reached with the Labour Ministry to end the blockade of the company’s main entrance at the Maurice Bishop Highway in Grand Anse, St. George’s. According to Sen. Humphrey, as far as the union is concerned the industrial aspects of the agreement and dispute is not a major problem for them.

“The major issue is the continued lockout of the workers while the company imports brewed products from Trinidad,” he said. The union boss also reiterated TAWU’s call to the nation to boycott brewery products.

“Do not purchase any of these products as long as the company continues to lock the workers out. That’s a patriotic call,” he said. The message was reinforced in a street march through the Town of St. George on Thursday as the union seeks a national response in the industrial impasse.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tillman Thomas was expected to meet with Ansa Mc Cal’s Chief Executive on Thursday to put forward proposals to him aimed at bringing an end to the GBL dispute. The visit of the Ansa Mc Cal’s executive comes against the background of complaints from the Grenada Trade union Council (GTUC) of the lack of courtesy extended to them by GBL’s Chief Negotiator, Dr. Patrick Antoine who invited them to a meeting to discuss the GBL issue.

The union leaders assembled at the PWU for the session but Dr. Antoine failed to show up, instead taking part in a radio programme to launch a broadside on TAWU.

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