The Labour Spokesman Editorial
In last week’s editorial, we made reference to a statement by noted economist (and Nobel prize winner) Professor Paul Krugman concerning America’s need to empower workers again. We mistakenly quoted that writing as having been made in the New York Post of 12 April 2021. The newspaper was in fact THE NEW YORK TIMES edition of the said date. We apologise most sincerely for that error, especially for any difficulties which it may have caused to persons undertaking any follow-up research.
This week we attempt to take a closer look at Professor Krugman’s strategic observation that “We don’t need strong unions just to level the economic playing field. We also need them to level the political playing field.”
A look back at, and consideration of our own history here in St Kitts and Nevis, will attest to the correctness of Krugman’s assertion, for, while it would seem as though our struggles grew out of matters pertaining only to conditions of employment, it is rather the case that our fight to improve living conditions in general provided the impetus for actions connected with industrial relations.
The Portuguese ‘Riots’ of 1896 have been variously described as having come about because of ‘labour unrest’. However, even though working conditions were uppermost in the minds of most, the then prevailing state of affairs — as they related to poor health conditions, deplorable housing, lack of educational opportunities, and an absence of political representation for the masses of the people — were the major factors which stimulated the industrial actions. The determination of those in authority to ignore the plight of the people resulted in similar mass reactions in 1928 and 1932.
Those persons who led the formation of The Workers League were fully seized of the fact that political agitation was key to the achievement of any improvements in the industrial sphere. While their efforts may have appeared to be only about workers in the sugar industry, they in fact fought for workers from all walks of life — in commerce, private employment, banks, domestics, and all others. It should never be forgotten that The Workers League was first and foremost a political organisation, even though it was not openly described as such. Thus it was that the political and trade union aspects of our struggles proceeded on a unified basis, achieving political and economic gains for our people which could not have been accomplished in any other way.
It is for this reason that those who are politically opposed to Labour have always tried to weaken, and in many instances kill off, the union. Given our history, we of this newspaper conclude that Professor Krugman is absolutely correct. We do need a strong trade union to level both the economic and the political playing field. We therefore call on the newly elected officers of our Trades and Labour Union to take Professor Krugman’s observation and recommendation into full account. Your efforts to redevelop the union must — we emphasise MUST — take these facts into full account. The Union and the Party have to work hand-in-hand.