‘Once again we IGOB) find another reason to penalize the worker. Once again the government is treating the workers of this country as liability on the balance sheet as opposed to assets. We (they) did not legislate laws to stop corruption. We did not come and say anybody involved in whatever happened at the Karl Heusner would face any kind of legal recourse but we had to come to the table and quickly pass into law a law that will stop workers from standing up their rights. That is serious business. We don’t take that lightly.’ – PSU President Jackie Willoughby

Both Prime Minister Barrow and his party whip Housing Minister Michael Finnegan have appeared on public television in the past week to bash the NTUCB for moves that umbrella union organization has made to have more of an input in GOB’s decision making processes. Both men were inflexible in the stance that the NTUCB would (1) not be allowed to participate in the disbursement of the Venezuela Funds and (2) would have no input in the formation of the KHMH Commission of Inquiry. The third point of contention is the amendment the Prime Minister is pushing through on the essential services act, which will take away the rights of workers by banning any form of industrial action.

According to Paul Perriott, who is the 1st Vice President of the NTUCB, the Prime Minister’s move constitutes ‘a serious violation of freedom of association. These amendments violate fundamental rights and it breaches the basic rights we have as employees. This amendment if passed into law will be immoral and illegally wrong.’

Willoughby was a little less diplomatic with her choice of words - ‘Having go-slows, having sickouts, having work to rule and that kind of thing are the only recourses that we have as unions. Taking those away amounts to hamstringing and muzzling the unions. That is what you are doing. That is what it is tantamount to. I could recall when our very own Prime Minister and I quote, thanks to Channel 7, ‘I am proud to be associated in some small way with them. Civil disobedience is a legitimate tool of democratic defense.’ What is that? Were those just words because at that time they were the opposition? Were those just words?”

Willoughby went so far as to pick up a UDP manifesto and outline the promises of the UDP in regards to collaboration with unions and workers; and just how far they have deviated from those promises.
           

It is not known what will be the next step of the unions, since it is apparent that the ‘ship’ has sailed without them, as the Prime Minister stated, especially in regard to the disbursement of the Venezuela funds. It will be interesting to see if the NTUCB is as battle-ready as it was during the term of the past administration.

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