In addition, most workers/employees say that most employers/owners make their employees redundant just to keep out the Trade Union from their business, thus, they also believe that it is in the workers/employees best interest to join a Trade Union of their own choosing.
Moreover, even where the threat of redundancy is not so present, workers/employees who remain in work still fear the downward pressure on their co-workers and the conditions of employment lingers in their minds.
For example, some employers/owners unilaterally impose changes in the terms and conditions of employment. The plain truth is, “The Trade Union Leadership and their members including non- Union members are quite aware that these unilaterally impose changes are and continue to occur in every sector of the economy.
In fact, the Leadership of the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades & Labour Union is sending a very clear message that it is prepared to take an even more hard-line position with those employers/owners over such issues when they rear their ugly heads because such issues has no place in society.
Very careful research has clearly shown that the Trade Unions has and continue to put considerable resources into employing organizers and continue to train activists to recruit and train its membership.
For example, whether it’s in the public or private sectors, within the last two months there was an increase of workers/employees joining compared to the same period last year.
However, this effort applies mainly to existing areas where the aim is to top up Trade Union membership in order to strengthen the Trade Union even further.
Finally, the Leadership of the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades & Labour Union and by extension other Unions as well is prepared to budget more resources into soft areas organizing where membership has not existed before (either at all or in any significant way).
But of course, the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades & Labour Union stands tall amongst those leading the way, but we do acknowledge that smaller Unions are also doing their bit as well.
Therefore, whether the trend of Union membership stabilization and limited growth continues remains to be seen, at least a firmer foundation for it to take place on a consistent basic has been created.
As time is of the utmost importance, we shall stop here for today, but will continue to bring to the public any and all views that our membership which us to rise in the public domain.
As I close for today, I leave you with a quote by the Encyclical of Pope Paul V11, 1971- A Call to Action, and a song by Josh Ann Yasol.
“The important role of Union organization must be admitted: Their object is the representation of the various categories of workers, their lawful collaboration in the economic advance of society and the development of the sense of their responsibility for the realization for the common good.” – Encyclical of Pope Paul V11, 1971 – A Call to Action.