ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA: Militant trade unionist Chester Humphrey is headed to return to parliament though the Keith Mitchell administration was reported to be quietly advocating a different labor representative for the senate.

The umbrella Grenada Trade Union Council has once again nominated Humphrey, who has already served two terms in the Senate, for a third session.

Four of the eight trade unions affiliated to the Grenada Trade Union Council wrote letters to the umbrella body naming Humphrey as the man they want to represent labor's interests in the Upper House.

Fourteen union representatives gathered here Monday to vote on the nomination, and thirteen of those voted for the reappointment of Humphrey.

The government had initially advocated that trade unions put forward three names from which it will decide who will be the representative. But the Grenada trade unions turned down the suggestion as out of hand, saying it was an attempt by the government to divide and rule the movement.

Humphrey’s name will now be forwarded as the lone nominee, and though Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell could technically turn it down, observers here say this is unlikely even though the government would have liked to see a different nominee.

Traditionally groups representing labor, business and farmers are allowed to nominate an independent representative each for the Upper House.

Newspaper columnist Leslie Pierre suggested in his latest Personally Speaking column that Prime Minister Mitchell should reject the TUC's nomination if it is Humphrey or TUC boss Derek Allard because of their appearances on opposition platforms during the last election campaign.

Both Humphrey and Allard appeared on the platform of three opposition parties, but they say they had the mandate of the TUC to do so.

The TUC urged workers to vote against the incumbent government because of what it claimed was its anti-worker policies.

Pierre had suggested in his column that the two trade unionists had acted without the authority of their movement.

In what was a public show of unity, the TUC called in the press to witness Humphrey's nomination on Monday.

TUC President Derek Allard also said his organization wanted to demonstrate the democratic manner in which TUC affairs are conducted.

Humphrey said issues such as the Labor Relations Act, the Pension Act and Public Sector Reform will be among the major areas of concern in the upcoming legislative period.

Trade unions have consistently argued that the labor relations amendments undermine workers’ right to strike, a complain the government has denied, saying it is only aimed at bringing discipline and order to the island’s sometimes fractious labor relations.

"That struggle will require greater tenacity and greater skill in the
upcoming period," Humphrey said soon after his nomination.

He also said "the struggle to regain pension rights for public workers as a struggle that we must win and which will be fought in and out of
Parliament."

Humphrey said he his grateful with the way Grenadian workers responded to the TUC's call for political action during the recent general elections campaign.

"This is the first time in a long time that workers have rallied to the call
of the Grenada Trade Unions Council and they did so marvelously by
expressing their franchise," Humphrey said. "I think the time has come when workers have to see the trade union struggle projecting beyond the confines of the negotiating table."

"Workers have to use the power of the vote in order to advance the interests of workers, not only for wage increases but for general improvement in conditions of work," Humphrey said.

He also urged public workers to prepare to fight against any public
sector reform which may threaten their rights as workers.

Humphrey got the support of the Public Workers Union, the Bank and General Workers Union, the Grenada Union of Teachers and his own Technical and Allied Workers Union -- the most powerful members of the TUC.

The Seamen and Waterfront Workers Union, which was the only union to public oppose the TUC decision to back opposition parties against the government, nominated TUC President Derek Allard, who declined the nomination.

The Grenada Manual Maritime Intellectual Workers Union, the Commercial and Industrial Workers and the Taxi Owners and
Drivers Association failed to nominate anyone.

Humphrey meantime has urged TUC affiliates to raise ideas and criticism and let him know what their individual agendas are so that their interests can be reflected in the business of the Senate.

Humphrey has been an open critic of the Mitchell administration and campaigned against its New National Party government in the recent general elections.

Some here credit the mobilization of the trade union movement for the strong showing of the opposition in the November 27 poll.

The National Democratic Congress which was without a seat in the last parliament, won seven of the 15 seats, losing four others by under 100 votes.


SOURCE: CARIBUPDATE.COM