ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada: Political watchers here have taken note of the results of the Public Workers Union poll "with interest" following elections to the union's executive on Tuesday.

Both the ruling New National Party and opposition parties, particularly the National Democratic Congress had more just a passing interest in the results.

Madonna Harford is the new President and among those included on her executive are Dr Winston Thomas, Adrian Thomas and Ray Roberts, among the many who are seen as arch critics of the government's labor and economic policies.

Both NNP and NDC, the major political forces here, gave their tacit support to different slates of the poll, treating the election as a test of the real thing, while seeking to have crucial influence over the powerful union.

Press advertisements and pamphlets, some not to kind to the major contenders were part of the campaign strategies.

Outgoing president Luret Clarkson and her slate were portrayed as the preferred team for the ruling party, while Harford and her slate were accused of close ties to the opposition.

Harford was a 3-to-1 winner over Clarkson, even though members of the ward island of Carriacou and Petite Martinique did not vote because they said they were not familiar enough with the respective slates.

In pamphlets denouncing her candidacy, Harford was painted as an "RMC (Revolutionary Military Council) sympathizer", similar claims the ruling NNP has made against some key players of the NDC.

RMC was the hated junta that ruled Grenada for a few days in 1983 after Maurice Bishop was murdered.

In the view of some watchers here if the PWU election was a test of anything, then it bore some bad news for the ruling party. "The PWU elections were like a public opinion poll and it showed up the opposition well," was how one analyst puts it.

"Interestingly the public servants were sophisticated enough to reject those unfair references to RMC, and there is obviously a capacity to see beyond those wild emotional accusations,"

For the ruling NNP the results suggested trouble on a number of fronts.

For one the party does not have its way with the electorate --at least the public's servant -- and under the new executive, PWU is more likely to take tougher stances in salary negotiations more in keeping with the attitude of the Grenada Union of Teachers and the Technical and Allied Workers Union.

In her first public interview since being elected Harford spoke about the need to "vigorously protecting the gains of workers" and "ensuring that we do not go backwards", in apparent likely comments about upcoming negotiations and the recent passage of an amended labor relations act.

Up to Thursday morning, NDC leader Tillman Thomas was the only politician to have called Harford and personally congratulated her on her victory.

NNP officials have sought to play down the political significance of the results, with one noting that people vote differently for their union leaders as against their politicians.

The official pointed to arch government critic Chester Humphrey who it concede is an immensely popular local trade unionist, but doubt he can win any seat if he were to contest a general election.

Widespread trade union grumbling after the amended labor relations act ands now with election of a likely more militant PWU executive, may force Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell in calling the general elections he has been unsure about.

"There are labor troubles on the horizon and it is plausible that the Prime Minister might call a poll before the labor grumblings turn into action

A four-hour early morning meeting this week between Prime Minister Mitchell and his Trinidadian political pollster Derek Ramsamooj had many suggesting that he was looking at his best bet.

For the immediate coming period, trade union activity is likely to fuel the local politics.

Head of the Trade Union Congress Derek Allard told an annual general meeting of the Grenada Union of Teachers Wednesday that when they get ready to vote in general elections they must look at the politicians who have sought to "oppress" them and vote against them.

Earlier this year he had called the Mitchell administration the most anti-labor regime in the history of Grenada.


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