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Collective Bargaining Representation
The union negotiates collective bargaining agreements on behalf of its members to ensure fair wages, benefits, and working conditions. Shop stewards act as liaisons between the workers and the union leadership.
Legal Representation
Members have access to legal assistance for workplace-related issues, such as unfair dismissal, discrimination, and safety violations.
Grievance Resolution
The SKNT&LU supports members in resolving workplace grievances, advocating for fair treatment and due process.
Professional Development
The union provides opportunities for members to enhance their skills and career prospects through various educational programs.
Health and Safety Advocacy
A key focus is on promoting safer work environments and compliance with health and safety standards.
Social and Networking Events
Members can participate in events that foster community and provide networking opportunities.
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The union lobbies for policies and legislation that protect and advance workers' rights and interests.
Job Security and Seniority Advocacy
Efforts are made to ensure fair practices regarding layoffs, promotions, and other job changes, often prioritizing seniority and performance.
Information and Resources
The union keeps members informed about labor rights, industry developments, and union activities through various communication channels.
Open Door Policy
Members have direct access to union representatives for guidance and support, with non-members also encouraged to engage with the union.
Workers Representation on a National Scale
The SKNT&LU represents workers at the national level on various committees, influencing policies and regulations affecting labor and employment.
By: Spokesman Newsroom BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Friday 10th August 2018)- After being on the run for almost one week, Lashon Hendrickson, 22, is presently back in police custody after he turned himself in to the Basseterre Police Station last evening.
A press release issued today from the Police Public Relations Department has informed that on Thursday evening, Hendrickson arrived at the Basseterre Police station accompanied by a lawyer.
Reportedly, he has since received an additional charge for the offence of Escaping Lawful Custody.
A Wanted Poster was issued by the Police for Hendrickson after he escaped Police custody on Friday 3rd August 03, 2018. He had been charged for the offences of Housebreaking and Larceny the day before (Thursday).
The local authorities are thanking all the persons who assisted with this matter by either sharing the poster or sharing information with the Police indicating “Together we achieve more.”
Basseterre, St. Kitts – For the second consecutive year the TDC Group of Companies has given its corporate backing to the St. Kitts Nevis Patriots in their quest to capture the 2018 Caribbean Premier Cricket League (CPL) title.
At the official presentation ceremony held at the Kayan Jet private air terminal, Ms. Mia Bailey, the TDC Client Relations and Marketing Manager handed over the company’s silver sponsorship package to Mr. Richard Berridge, St. Kitts-Nevis Patriots Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Mr. Berridge expressed his gratitude and remarked that he is confident with respect to the shared benefits to be derived from the sponsors joining forces with the Patriots and by extension, with CPL, which is already recognized as one of the world’s leading 20/20 cricket tournaments.
He noted that sponsors partnership with the franchise and the immensely popular CPL would be favourable to the sponsors in a number of ways, especially bolstering the partners’ brand on the global stage.
Speaking after the event, Ms. Bailey made mention of TDC’s association with Sports and deemed it a pleasure to endorse the team and wished them well in their endeavours.
“TDC has a long-standing partnership with the Sporting fraternity and we are pleased to continue this proud tradition by once again supporting our very own team. We wish them every success. “
The company’s ongoing commitment to Cricket continues through its title sponsorship of the Runako Morton Primary School Cricket Championship on Nevis and the Berridge Howell Inter-island Cricket Tournament on St. Kitts.
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts ( August 2018)- Last Friday afternoon (3rd August), over 300 participants of the recently ended second annual Youth Explorers Summer Camp- organised by the Ministry of National Security and the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force-paraded through the streets of Basseterre sending messages via placards in calling for an end to the issue of crime and violence here in St.Kitts- Nevis.
Such messages included: ‘Let’s Work Together To Stop The Violence’, ‘No Guns For Me’,‘Stop The Violence’, ‘Stop The Killing’, ‘I am a Child Please Secure My Future’, ‘Peace, Love, Harmony’, ‘Raise Our Youths Right’, ‘Be A little More You and Less Them’, ‘Each One Teach One’, ‘When A Woman Says No She Means No-Stop The Violence Against Our Women’ and ‘You Do the Crime You Serve the Time-Stop The Violence and Crime’.
A participant of this year’s Youth Explorers Summer Camp displays a peaceful message during a march held last Friday afternoon. (Spokesman Snap)
Camp Coordinator Constable Lauston Percival, in speaking with this reporter, informed that the youths “were the ones who wrote what they wanted to [express] in letting the public know how they are feeling and wanted to say.”
Commenting on his impression of the messages, he shared: “The messages were very good. The young people are hurting on the inside with what is going on; some of them are hurting directly and some indirectly.”
According to him, the camp was a success based on the feedback he has received in speaking with the participants themselves and other individuals who “said they enjoyed it.”
Officer Percival is grateful to all who have collectively made this year’s camp successful including parents, sponsors as well as his colleagues.
He said close to 350 participants ages 5 to 18 attended this time around, and according to officer Percival, the first two days of the camp was “challenging” in regard to the number of participants present coupled with the behavioural issues that some of them showed.
Additionally, this media house understands that due to the large number of participants this year, the camp was hosted for one week instead of two in an effort to effectively manage in the interest of all involved.
Camp Coordinator Constable Lauston Percival moving along in the procession (Spokesman Snap)
This year’s summer outing was hosted from Sunday 29th July to Sunday 5th August at the Dr. William Connor Primary School in St. Johnston’s Village. Notably, the camp opened with a church service at the Zion Moravian Church and climaxed with another worship session at the People’s Evangelistic Centre.
Among the other activities conducted were a motivational talk session with participants ages 10 to 18, first aid session and a boat ride to the sister isle of Nevis.
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 10th August 2018) – A controversial issue allegedly surrounding the police force and the Ministry of National Security has stirred a hot public discussion about the ‘Mable Richards’ and ‘Andre Liburd’ Facebook characters with two well-known political and social commentators Terry Adams and Austin Edinborough giving their views on the matter this week.
Both men expressed their opinions while calling into Freedom ‘Issues’ programme on Wednesday 8th August during the St.Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP)-sponsored weekly featuring opposition leader Dr. Denzil Douglas who addressed the alleged scandalous subject.
“When social media characters can openly say that drugs were stolen from the exhibit room where they are locked down, and make statements that other police officers have been involved in this theft of drugs on hold by the police for a trial in the future then you must understand the severity, the depth and the width of the crisis that we have in our police force, in the Ministry of National Security and in our country on a whole,” Douglas- who is the immediate former Prime Minister and Minister of National Security- has said about the alleged matter.
As gathered, the ‘Mable Richards’ and ‘Andre Liburd’ social media accounts have made a number of allegations in recent statements which gave way to the controversial topic.
Adams has described the alleged issue “as a troubling, troubling situation as it relates to national security…”
“I understand your concern because what we are dealing with and talking about is the two most important and critical law enforcement agency of the government who are under suspicion…,” he said to Dr. Douglas.
According to Adams: “I am in total agreement with you; the Prime Minister must not allow social media just to run with this and then believe it’s going to go away because we have a three-day and seven-day syndrome.”
He further indicated that the Advisor in the Ministry of National Security must set out to investigate the matter [and then] report to the honourable Prime Minister and then the honourable Prime Minister reports to the country…”
Adams claimed that he has been talked about on the two particular Facebook accounts.
“I get a lot of blows from Andre and Mable. I have never been on the Facebook; I don’t know what it’s like. Most of the times I’ve received the information and these posts is when people forward them to me but I have my big suspicion as to who is Andre Liburd [and] as to who is Mable Richards because they have already exposed themselves.”
Speaking on the issue after Adams had his say, Edinborough who is also a well-known political activist and SKNLP spokesperson- remarked: “This post…Mable Richards is coming out with it. We have had no statement from the police. We have had no statement from the Ministry of National Security which is run by Dr. Timothy Harris. We have had nothing said from the office of the Attorney General with respect to this and we have had nothing from the Ministry of Information Technology in respect of whether or not the statement is true and what would be done if it is fake.”
He also talked about recent police press releases in St.Kitts, about two persons being charged in respect to disseminating false information.
“It stands therefore that communications can be tracked even if an official complaint was made in those matters investigations had to be made to connect the persons the persons to the device used. If for some reason Mable Richards is a pseudonym; they don’t know who the person is per say, the technology is there to determine which computer, whose computer- because I have two computers that have the same IP address and every now and then I get some information that have two computers and one IP address on it- so therefore the technology is there to say who these persons are and which and what device and computer they’re using.”
Edinborough added: “The mere fact that such an allegation has been made about our police force- I’m not talking about the personal attacks that are in there then if it is not true, that press release should have been out a long time ago stating that it is not true and indicating that Mable Richards would be sought and brought to justice. If it is true then how does Mable Richards get the information before the police makes a press release or the Ministry of National Security? How?!”
In calling for the resignation of three public officials without directly calling their names, he went on to say “You have a situation where somebody-whether it’s a phony person or whatever who is posting on Facebook making real serious allegations about the police and implicating senior police officers. The Ministry of National Security has made no statement, the minister of Information and technology has said nothing with respect investigating where this inform came from and who is responsible for putting it to the public?…We in St.Kitts and Nevis need to take a stance.”
BASSETERRE, ST.KITTS (Thursday 9th August 2018) –For yet another year, four St.Kitts-Nevis nationals have become recipients of the Michael L. King Honorary Scholarship Grant provided by the TDC Group of Companies.
The 11th annual award presentation ceremony was held this morning at the TDC Training Room at its head office located on Fort Street in Basseterre.
The 2018 awardees are: Daniva Richards (Undergraduate: Human Services- Monroe College in the US); Sherma Sutton (Information Systems & Technology-University of the Virgin Islands) from St.Kitts and also Santonnya Mills (Accounting: Midwestern State University) and Acaidion Tyson (Criminology- University of Ontario Institute of Technology) from the sister isle of Nevis.
Scholarship awardees (Spokesman Snap)
Each has received the onetime lump sum funding of US$5,000 geared towards their academic funding.
Chairperson of the Michael L. King Scholarship Grant Committee Maritza Bowry (a TDC director) informed that this year, forty-three (43) applications- 10 from residents in Nevis and 33 from residents in St.Kitts – were received.
“Some of the applicants have begun their studies and others were recently accepted. The applicants are pursuing studies in various disciplines including psychology, accounting, construction management, economics, geography, political science, biology, international tourism and marketing, computer science, civil engineering, media and communication, sports management, criminal justice, health sciences, fashion and human resource management. However based on the rules of the grant, only two awardees are [two] from St.Kitts and two from Nevis.”
According to her: “The scholarship is intended to assist students who are desirous of pursuing full-time studies at the undergraduate level in areas which include but are not limited to architecture, accounting, agriculture, construction management, economics, engineering, pharmacology and information technology.”
“The award is opened to citizens of St.Kitts and Nevis who are resident in the Federation and who intend to return after completing their studies,” Bowry added.
The scholarship committee chairperson disclosed that to date, TDC has contributed US$ 220, 000 or EC$594,000 for tertiary education of forty- four (44) nationals of St.Kitts and Nevis.
“The vision of the TDC Group of Companies is to be the leading public company of the OECS. We believe that the investment in human capital is critical to our development. Helping to create stronger communities by investing in education is part of our corporate mandate,” she noted.
Scholarship awardees seen with employees of the TDC Group of Companies and members of the Michael L. King Scholarship Grant Committee including Chairperson Maritza Bowry and Dr. Clive Ottley (past committee chairperson) both seen second and third from left respectively as well as Senior Resources Officer Gloria Esdaille Robinson second from right end (Spokesman Snap)
Media information on Michael L. King states that the former TDC Director had been with the TC Group of Companies since its inception in 1973. Reportedly, he retired as Chairman and CEO in February 2011 and remained on the Board until February 2007.
Furthermore, it was shared that King now resides overseas but due to his dedication to further academic achievement, this scholarship was set up to commemorate his commitment to higher education and personal development.
(READ MORE IN THIS WEEK’S LABOUR SPOKESMAN NEWSPAPER)
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 3rd August 2018)– Yesterday morning (Thursday), more than 10 employees of the popular Jewelry and watches store Diamonds International (St.Kitts branch)- accompanied by their general manager- conducted a clean-up operation along the coastal area of the New Guinea community within the vicinity of the boat yard of St.Kitts Marine Works Ltd.
Speaking with this reporter General Manager Naama Omy Amir, who hails from Israel and now starting her second year with the company gave an insight into the hands on drive in giving back to the community.
General Manager Naama Omy Amir at work (Spokesman Snap)
“I love St.Kitts. I love the people and I think that the community is very warm. We have a lot of locals working with us actually asking all the time what is the way that we can actually help so we decided now that …because high season it’s very hard because we are working with the ships but even in high season we would try to do at least once a month in the schools but right now we’re going to do every month something else so this is the beginning and it’s our first time.”
“Cleaning the beach I think it’s very important. I don’t blame the people actually in the way that it’s dirty,” she added while suggesting that more garbage bins be put in the area to encourage proper disposal of waste.
A local employee Kimoya (left) and a colleague are all smiles during the clean-up (Spokesman Snap)
The Diamonds International official, in light of the touristic economy of the Federation, talked about up always keeping the cleanness of the environment “because people always care which [country] is clean.
A community resident (who preferred to remain anonymous) stopped by the area out of curiosity. In chit-chatting with this reporter, he commended the company for taking the initiative in helping to clean the area.
He also shared that he normally visits the beach to relax.
Omy Amir indicated that the Jewelry and watches store might be the first company of that business nature to carry out a beach clean-up activity.
“In our business, I think we are the first one to do it so I hope that everybody else would follow and do it together. We can do it with other companies and we would love to because together we can do it; this is our slogan at Diamonds International actually [Together We Can Do It] that everybody together because one person is not enough only if we all gather and live in peace and do togetherness stuff then we can make a difference.”
She went on to point out that the company intends to partake in a community-involved activity every month and, in general, to be partnership with different hosted events on the island.
Workers cleaning up an area (Spokesman Snap) Omy Amir disclosed that Diamonds International St.Kitts will be contributing to the 9th annual St. Kitts Run and Family Walk put on by the St. Christopher Children’s Home in October.
As gathered by this media house, initially when the business place began seeking information about what beaches needed cleaning up on the island, information from the St.Kitts Tourism Authority indicated there were no dirty beaches.
Hence, the company had to seek an area to carry out its beach clean-up interest.
Waste collected in yesterday’s clean-up operation included plastic bottles, plastic bags and glass bottles.
After the waste was collected, the Diamonds International St. Kitts crew were able to place the filled trash bags in the garbage collection space of the boat yard facility with permission granted by the company.
Workers pose for a photo after the work is done (Spokesman Snap)
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (THURSDAY 2ND AUGUST 2018)– A special exhibition dubbed ‘The Cleghorn Journals: Apprentices Standing Up For Their Rights’ was on yesterday (Wednesday) launched by the St. Christopher National Trust in collaboration with the National Archives at the National Museum located on the Bay Road in Basseterre.
Director of the National Archives Victoria O’Flaherty highlighted the importance of Special Magistrate Ralph Cleghorn saying: “The main reason why we are interested in Cleghorn is because he was born here which is very unusual: most of these magistrates came from England and he was of mixed parentage so he had quite a bit of sympathy with one with the coloured class who were severely disadvantaged at the time and also with the slaves because he had ancestry that belonged to the enslaved population.”
She continued: “Although most of the magistrates were not of the planter class, given the limitation of the region, they tended-once they got here –to befriend planters and merchants so that became the kind of skewed their perspective and that is where Cleghorn is important because although he had moments where he might have been a little more lenient, he was not skewed in that way.”
She gave an example of an apprentice named Peggy on the Cunningham Estate.
“On the Cunningham Estate was brought before him because her manger said she was spending too much time in the sick house. Her excuse was that her baby was sick so she was looking after it. When Cleghorn saw her infront of him, he realised right away that the child was sick; he took time to notice that the child was sick. He looked at her and told her ‘look after your child’, it’s there in the journal. He also warned her ‘don’t spend too much time in the sick house unless it is necessary’. So he never punished her, he didn’t go against her wishes; he respected the fact that she was looking after her child and he did not take on the fact that her manager suggested that her mother could look after the child for her.”
The National Archives Director shared: “In other words, the bond between mother and child was important to him. So these are the things that add to the humanity of this man and that’s why he is so important to us.”
The National Museum is open Mondays to Fridays 8AM to 4PM and on Saturdays from 9AM to 12PM with admission of EC$5 while children under 12 enter for free.
By: Drizel Hanley BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (MONDAY 30TH JULY 2018)-The reigning Miss National Carnival Queen, Shaniqua Lanns, walked away with the 57th annual Miss Jaycees Pageant crown which was held in Antigua last night (Sunday).
The Kittitian beauty who hails from La Guerite outdid her competitors and also received won top awards for the Miss Photogenic, Staying True to the Theme and Best Talent segments.
Lanns is the fifth person from St. Kitts and Nevis to have won the title.
The first runner-up spot was awarded to the host country representative Ms. Antigua and Barbuda Ashley Boodoo.
Second runner-up, went to Ms. USA Felicia Rose Limada. She was adjudged the Best Dressed Evening Wear and Best in Swimwear Caribbean segments.
Best Interview: St. Vincent and Miss Congeniality: Chancy Fontenell, Miss St. Lucia.
The other contestant hailed from Trinidad and Tobago.
Dominica, a favorite among pageant lovers, did not take part because of hurricane Maria last year.
Anguilla pulled out of the pageant as its delegate prepares for the Miss Universe title as Great Britan’s representative.
The 2018 Miss Jaycees Pageant forms part of the activities for the Antigua and Barbuda National Carnival.
By: Precious Mills BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Monday 30th July 2018) – Agricultural Officer at the Department of Agriculture Versailles Stuart is encouraging citizens and residents to engage in back yard gardening so as to assist in the interest of nationwide food security.
Speaking with this reporter during an exclusive interview, he explained that one of his responsibilities “is to ensure that to ensure food security for the entire community and entire country actually, and what we are trying to do is organise back yard gardening for every single yard for every single person that have a house in the Federation.”
Agricultural Officer at the Department of Agriculture Stuart Versailles (right) points to one of the agricultural displays at the 2018 Agriculture Open Day (Spokesman Snap)
Commenting on some of the key benefits of back yard gardening, Versailles touched on areas like physical health, environmental protection and lowered grocery bills.
“Having a back yard garden actually lowers your grocery bill. For example, if you have to go to the supermarket and buy let’s say three pounds of sweet pepper for $9 to $12, I can actually, from one of those peppers in my house, take the seeds out and plant it so that’s extra money that I would not have to spend and can save monthly by growing my own sweet peppers in my yard and imagine if I am saving $40 to $50 a month from buying sweet peppers, what can happen to other produce like tomato and sweet potato? All of these things add up so I can actually save $200 to $300 per month by having my own back yard garden.”
He went on to say: “It makes food more personal because you are the one growing it so it feels better eating because you actually know what you’ve been giving to the plant and what the plant actually has in; not buying food from overseas or any other market where you don’t know what injection is inside of the food in order to make it appear as delicious as you might think it is and then when you buy it and go home you’re disappointed.”
On the issue of physical wellness and the environment impact, the Agriculture Department official had this to say: “It improves your health; keeps you fit. It keeps you fit because you have to go out and do the work in the garden. You also have to do some hoeing so you burn some calories in the process. It’s also positive for the environment because with you planting, it gives off oxygen which helps to control the carbon dioxide that is in the air.”
He highlighted that the St.Kitts Back Yard Gardening Association (SKBYGA) was recently formed noting that such has been in the works since 2012 and that group is focused on encouraging other persons to join.
Versailles along with other SKBYGA members participated in the 2018 Agriculture Open Day held in April. In that particular section, there was a variety of plants growing styles-using recycled material- to accommodate backyard gardening including methods for individual and families whose homes do not have soil access for such activity.
Display styles included stepping, vertical, roof, fence and house side in exhibiting foods like watermelon, cucumber, tomatoes, sweet pepper, lettuce, onion eggplant and sweet potato.
Water and beverage bottles ranging in sizes such as 500ml, 5ml, and 1ml were used as well as wooden pallets and vehicle tires.
“If you don’t have the space in your yard because you live in a two storey house where you don’t have access to soil, the side of the landing can be used. Most of the stuff you use inside your kitchen you can plant them right at the side of your house to the side of your fence, and what you actually can’t grow or don’t have access to you can then go to the supermarket,” the agricultural officer remarked.
Versailles added: “We are not encouraging you to go out and buy these expensive pots or soil. You can use the soil in your own back yard. At the Agriculture Department, we have [items]…to put the plants in and grow out.”
He also urges neighbours to have garden networking in supplying each other with produce that the other does not.
“So we are building the community so encourage persons in the community to get friendly with your neighbours. We are trying to bring the community together through agriculture.”
The Agriculture Department official is inviting interested individual and families who do not know how to go about organising a back yard garden to contact him for assistance at 467-1829 or 476- 1841.
By: Precious Mills BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Wednesday 30th July 2018) – “In terms of Buju Banton, obviously if he is available we’re going to try and get him; that goes without say but I guess nobody knows what will happen until after December.”
So said Chairman of the Artiste Selection and Production Committee Jonel Powell while responding to this reporter during the post 2018 St.Kitts Music Festival press conference when asked about a rumour that Buju Banton is being looked at for next year’s festivity.
Powell has informed that his committee has already started looking at and engaging artistes for next year and that the public can early artiste releases as was done last year leading up to the 2018 production.
The well-known Grammy winning, Jamaican Reggae icon (Buju Banton), whose birth name is Mark Anthony Myrie, is expected to be released from a United States federal prison (the McRae Correctional Facility in Georgia) come Saturday 8th December after would have served time relating to a 2009 drug conviction.
A member of his management team, Jodian Ebanks, at media briefing during a Love and Harmony cruise aboard the Celebrity Summit vessel in March this year announced in that the artiste is slated to perform his first concert in the Caribbean region in April 2019.
That country is Trinidad and Tobago and the show time is set for Monday 22nd April 2019-Easter Monday. No venue has been disclosed as yet.
A concert in Buju Banton’s homeland Jamaica is scheduled for later date.
Speaking about the artiste’s excitement, Ebanks commented: “Buju is very excited about being on the road again. Jamaica is very special to him and he wants to be able to give his home country the type of concert it deserves.”
According to her, “Trinidad was chosen as the dates, travel schedules and all the other variables all came together for that time of year and was the best fit.”
In February 2011, Buju Banton’s Before the Dawn album won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album which contains hits like ‘Battered and Bruised’ and ‘Try Life’.
He best known for other Reggae and Dancehall hits like ‘Untold Stories’, I Wanna Be Loved’, ‘Not An Easy Road’ and ‘Waterman’.
