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| University of the Virgin Islands Professor of Economic, Dr. Simon Jones-Hendrickson (Photo by Erasmus Williams) |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, NOVEMBER 1ST 2005 - University of the Virgin Islands Professor says that the economic conditions changed in St. Kitts and Nevis, long before the decision was made to close the sugar industry last July.
Professor of Economics Dr. Simon Jones-Hendrickson addressing the 66th Annual Conference of the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union on the theme: "Consolidating Our Vision for the Future," not only urged the Union to go back to basics, but provided a recipe for rejuvenation in the post sugar era.
"Your role as a Trades and Labour Union, is an organisation formed by workers to work for and on behalf of the workers. Your collective bargaining status gives you a mandate to negotiate and work on behalf of the workers of this nation. Your goal is to negotiate with employers such that you are able maintain and improve the wages and salaries of your members," said Dr. Jones-Hendrickson.
He reminded the rank and file of their responsibility to ensure that the working conditions in St. Kitts and Nevis is at a level that enhances the productivity of its members, as opposed to retarding their fulfillment of their duties in the workplace, a workplace from which they expect to be amply rewarded.
"You have the right, by law, to negotiate collectively with employers over wages, working conditions, terms of employment, and all other features as they pertain to other benefits. Management must not be Machiavellian, dictatorial or Pompeian in their approach. They have to negotiate with you. They must agree with you, and you must agree with them," advised the former St. Kitts and Nevis Ambassador.
He added: "Where unions or workers do not have those rights, they are up a creek; they cannot negotiate with the employers. They could strike and or threaten strike, but there is no guarantee that they will achieve their goals. You could use your political power and or links to project yourself forward. The times have changed, and the times, they are a-changing. You have to change with the times."
Dr. Jones-Hendrickson called for consolidation of the vision to ensure that the names of Robert Bradshaw, Paul Southwell, J.N. France, W. F. Glasford, a Union man and subsequent Speaker of the House; F. T. Williams, Fitzroy Bryant; Lee Moore; E. St. John Payne, and others, did not die in vain.
"You have to be the ambassadors of and for Labour," the Sandy Point-born intellectual said.
He said that young people who work in the industries, commercial houses and hotels in this country must also understand that these multi-million dollar industries just did not come St. Kitts and Nevis overnight.
"Many of you and many of our people negotiated for industries to come here to St. Kitts and Nevis," said Jones-Hendrickson, who pointed out that the enabling economic and political climate, ensure that industries will come, and to make sure that when they came, or when they developed on the home turf, that they could survive and prosper.
"You only have to look at their balance sheets and read their annual reports to know that they are in prosperous times. Other businesses are coming because you as a Labour Union made sure that the industrial climate here in St. Kitts and Nevis was such that people can feel free to work and to be in concert with a vision that focuses on the rights of the workers in this country that we all call home," said Jones-Hendrickson.
He said that although sugar is no more, attention must now be given to other areas of the economy to ensure that Labour is not marginalised and noted that there is no need for a Moyne Commission today.
"There is no need for a Walter Citrine, then Secretary-General of the British Trade Union, a member of the Moyne Commission, to tell you what to do. You know what you have to do. You have to consolidate your vision for the future because social and economic development depends on our people finding ways to make a living in this country, their home, my home and yours," said Professor Jones-Hendrickson, who advised that as a Union, in this era of globalisation, it must make sure to continue to work on behalf of workers and that health and safety rules are respected in the work place.
"That you consolidate your vision, such that the new industries that will come will not surreptitiously undermine the workers' rights by floating all kinds of propaganda that they cannot take workers home at nights or mornings when they finished working. You have to guard against people saying that the working conditions in industries are so because the government, your political ally, likes it so," said the Kittitian economist.
Dr. Jones-Hendrickson advised that the Union will have to ensure that when businesses come, and more will come from the peninsular to Port Zante, from La Vallee Vambelle, from White Gate to Belle Tete, from South Frigate Bay to Friars Bay, from St. Paul's, to Tabernacle, from Sandy Point to Palmetto Point, that the workers are not paid wages below the accepted legal minimum.
"You have to make sure that in every industry, every business where you think Labour ought to be organised that you have the right to organise. I know that as we go through this era of globalisation, there would be a tendency for some businesses to give you the impression that you do not have to organise their workers because the government will provide the welfare benefits for the workers," said Jones-Hendrickson, who warned that in the global arena, the intense competitive market place may encourage some businesses to cut corners, on the assumption that by cutting corners, they can save costs.
"You have to be on the lookout," he warned, adding: "When they cut corners and say that in their home base this and that does not happen, you have to remind them that they are on your turf. They are in your home. In your home, they have to act according to the norms and mores of your home. They have to act according to the law. They have to act according to the laws of the land. Believe you me, many of the new businesses will test your mettle; they will test your resolve. You have to have your vision in front of you every day."
