The leader of the considered main opposition National Democratic Congress has called for the resignation of the country’s Labour Minister Senator Lawrence Joseph.

Thomas’ call came in a television address Wednesday night in what NDC officials said was a speech in solidarity with “embattled Grenadian workers” observing Labor Day Thursday.

The NDC leader’s call came a day after government announced it is putting the controversial amendment to the country’s labor code on hold for more consultations.

The government has been under fire from both trade unions and employers for the proposed amendment that has been passed in the House of Representatives and was to be sent to the Senate for approval.

Critics of the amendment said it achieves little while it has succeeded in upsetting both sides of the debate, and that it was passed without the Keith Mitchell administration taking the views of the major players onboard despite of prior consultations.

“In making the announcement on Tuesday that the government was –suspending the amendment – and not withdrawing it as the workers have called for—the government is saying that the Minister of Labor misled Cabinet on the issue. He should resign,” the NDC boss said.

Thomas’ address was said by observers here to be an uncharacteristically hard hitting speech in which he attacked the labor policies of the government, while saying that workers cannot trust the word of the Keith Mitchell administration even when it appears on the backfoot.

“Workers are to celebrate this latest victory their struggles have brought them, but must remain vigilant against this government. We warn that this is, as we understand it, part of a ploy by the government, to put the issue on the back-burner, seek re-election in the early poll they are now planning and then spring a bill with little or no adjustments if they get re-elected,” he warned.

There is widespread speculation here that general elections constitutionally due in the first half of next year might be called earlier with fear in the ruling New National Party that its popularity might be slipping.

“Workers must ensure that this is not merely a re-election ploy. We warn you today that another NNP term will spell bad news for the interest of workers,” Thomas said in a direct pitch for the support of workers.

“Simply put, this government cannot be depended on to defend workers’ rights,” he declared.

“As you observe May Day, we call on workers to stand firm against this creeping dictatorship. Indeed, you are one of the last bastions against arrogant and inconsiderate government. Just as you do not take the gains you have earned for granted, so too you should not take for granted your role in saving this country,” he said.

“It is the workers of this country who, in the end, will save this country from a government that has lost its soul. The great expectations the workers had of this administration four years ago have been dashed by our collective despair,” he added.

The NDC boss called for a “realignment of forces” on the island and for trade unions to openly support the new movement against the government.

“Do not let them fool you into believing that standing up in defense of your rights is merely political and that you should not get involved in politics. It is politics that has gotten us here today where you are fighting to protect your gains. It is politics in the end that will ensure that those gains are protected,” Thomas said. “As with every other social group, the workers of this country have a right to form alliances that will guarantee the protection of their hard-earned rights.”

“As a political party we offer ourselves as an agent of change. As the son of a nutmeg farmer and the product of the working class, I am proud to lead a political party that, at this juncture in our history, is willing and able to stand by your side,” he declared.


PROVIDED BY CARIBUPDATE.COM