The Labour Spokesman Editorial
Last week, from an historical perspective, we did a very brief recap of the workers’ struggles which have been the lot of mankind all through the ages. Looking at some aspects of the American experience, we showed how tough those struggles have always been, and of the grave dangers faced by workers whenever they have sought to exert their collective strengths and bargaining powers. In numerous instances the re-actions of employers resulted in the deaths and serious injuries of many protesting workers.
Yet, in the face of such dangers, workers always found the inner strength to carry on the fight for improved terms and conditions of their employment.
It is our intention, and our hope, that knowledge of the historical struggles will always serve as encouragement for our members, and all other workers in our beloved St Kitts and Nevis, to maintain and exercise their determined efforts to advance their just causes, especially when living under a regime that favours employers.
But there have been many instances in which the actions of union leaders and officials have brought the movement into disrepute. In The USA the abuse of union funds by the late Jimmy Hoffa provoked the anger of members, and led to actions by the late Senator Robert Kennedy (later US Attorney General under his brother, President Jack Kennedy) to investigate and jail Mr Hoffa. There was also the case in The UK where a former General Secretary of The Trade Union Congress most egregiously abused their funds to support his excessively lavish life style.
Whenever those excesses took place they setback the cause of the workers and their movement. As is only to be expected, at such times employers and members of the general public always pounce on the criminal actions to berate the trade union movement. Recovering from such setbacks always increases the general difficulties of maintaining the momentum and advancing the movement and our cause.
In The United States The GOP onslaught, from the time of President Reagan, has weakened trade unionism. (Remember the case of the Air Traffic Controllers who went on strike to protest low wages and unreasonably long working hours. Mr Reagan abolished their union, PATCO.) President Joseph Biden and his administration are trying, really hard, to keep his promises to assist the trade union movement with regaining its strength. In the vast majority of cases the progress is commendable, but the fight is a very tough one.
Here in St Kitts and Nevis our trade union movement has a record of which we can and ought to be justly proud. As our guest speaker pointed out at Sunday’s Annual Convention, the history of The St Kitts and Nevis Trades and Labour Union is one which, amongst other things, ought to inspire us to continue the struggle. Indeed, we should never tire in doing good.
We understand that large numbers of our membership are terrified at the prospect of losing their jobs because some employers are fiercely anti-union and are constantly looking for any excuse to fire them. That makes them afraid to participate in union activities, but we urge them to be not afraid. There are in force laws designed to protect all workers from unfair or unjustified dismissal or other form of punishment.
We urge one and all to stand firm with their union. Alone you are weak and vulnerable, whereas there is strength in togetherness. The Labour Spokesman commends our officials for bringing off another successful convention, and we call on all members, as well as all those persons desirous of joining up, to maintain strong hearts. The struggle is a tough but very rewarding one. Let us all commit ourselves to maintaining the forward momentum of our historic trade union movement.