WAWU disappointed trade unions not part of budget discussions

Augustus believes unions should be part of pre-budget discussions
Augustus believes unions should be part of pre-budget discussions

Secretary-Treasurer of the Waterfront and Allied Workers’ Union (WAWU), Kertiste Augustus has expressed disappointment that the trade unions were not invited to engage government in discussion as it relates to the 2016/2017 National Budget.

He made that statement during an interview with Dominica News Online (DNO) on Thursday.

In a recent report Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Roosevelt Skerrit announced that the $680,798,190 budget will be presented on Tuesday, July 26.

“We are disappointed that the trade unions were not invited to engage government in discussions in relation to what we would like to see contained in the 2016/2017 National Budget,” he said. “One of the things we would like to see is this question of consultation in relation to inputs into the Budget – those consultations should be held in the first quarter of the year so that they could be reflected in the Budget.”

According to him, WAWU proposed in the future that prior to the presentation of any Budget the government would engage the private sector or non-government organizations to include the trade union movement.

He indicated that WAWU has stated before that the government should make arrangements to provide a subvention to the trade unions for the purpose of education and training only.

“In other words, whatever funds that they set aside for us we would utilize that for education and training of the membership,” he explained.

In fact, Augustus stated that recognizing there is quite a lot of work to be done in the Ministry of Labour, a vacant post that currently exists there should be filled, “as quickly as possible.”

“And therefore allocations should be made to increase the Ministry of Labour budget,” he noted. “Secondly to look at the allowances that is being paid to members of the tribunal.”

When it comes to the important sectors of the economy, Augustus said WAWU have submitted that following Tropical Storm Erika the government should provide assistance to farmers, in order to have their farms back to the productive level prior to the storm.

“I have heard already from the statement of the Prime Minister that increase allocation will be made to agriculture,” he said.

He said in relations to tourism, WAWU felt that financial help should be provided to the hotel sector “to expand, refurbish and market the hotels.”

“We believe that the refurbishing could be in the forms of new beds, wardrobes, cupboards, chairs…,” he explained.

This, he said, will allow the hotels to be much more attractive to their clients.

He explained such a move will allow clients to recommend the hotels to their friends and therefore the hotels will attract more visitors.

“Because the greater occupancy rate of the hotel, the better for the hotels and the better for the workers of the hotels,” he noted.

When it comes to marketing Dominica, Augustus believes the hotels should join in.

“That will help to ensure that the hotels occupancy level could be heightened,” he said.

He also pointed to a “linkage” between the manufacturing and hotel sectors.

“If there is this understanding, that when the hotels are in the refurbishing mode that they could engage the manufacturing sector to provide the beds, tables, chairs…because once that is done then the manufacturing sector would have to supply the hotels with those items, and that could create jobs within the manufacturing sector. You could see the linkage between the manufacturing sector and the tourism sector, and also there is the linkage between the tourism sector and the agricultural sector, because the agricultural sector could supply the hotels with the tomatoes, the cucumbers, the lettuce and the other products.”

“We hope that some of those could be put on the table,” Augustus stated.

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10 Comments

  1. July 23, 2016

    UNIONS :!:

    Highly inflammable subject matter.

    Handle with care!

    In the beginning of my Christian life I was involved in a church movement that didn’t want its members to belong to unions. Later I worked for a large powerful company. When I saw how they jerked their employees around I became one of the frontline workers who fought to bring the union in and won!

    I believe it is for the good of the employees and the benefit of families that most companies be unionized. Union members should attend the meetings and support their unions. Governments should
    support the unions.

    Are their exceptions? Yes! But we don’t get that side of the story very often. Let me tell you about it.

    No company that treats its employees right has ever needed a union :!: In later years I worked for one.

    Proper wages with fair performance reviews… Salary reviews every year… Sick days off conditional with
    a doctor’s letter after the second day…

    • July 23, 2016

      Short term and long term disability insurance… compassionate leave for death or tragedy in the family…

      Reasonable opportunities for paid job education and advancement in the company.

      Did I mention they had a good benefit plan? It seemed they were always trying to find something to add to it. The loyalty to the company was incredible!

      Yes, I worked for such a company for a few years. Nobody there wanted a union. If you wanted to start a riot you only had to mention getting a union. A senior employee told me this happened years before. Somebody called a meeting and tried to convince his fellow employees that they should have a union. All hell broke loose :!:

      Companies need to learn from this but very few will.

      Lets face it. Most companies need a union. Let it be a good one. And let it have your full support!

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.

  2. dee
    July 22, 2016

    It still have WAWU nah ?
    Who they representing ?
    How and when ?
    ITS SO MUCH EASIER TO FOOL PEOPLE, THAN TO CONVINCE THEM THAT THEY HAVE BEEN FOOLED
    ponder on that Kertist .

  3. dno sucks
    July 22, 2016

    Sir only now. You should have addressed these vicious policies of this Administration years ago. I noticed all these things while lived in D.A. I had very great expectations of you as a union leader. My prayers were answered.

  4. Reasoning
    July 22, 2016

    :?: :mrgreen: These hypocrite men who are supposed to be mature leaders have allowed a young ….. to destroy the country and every institution in the name of politics and party loyalty! These so-called men remain silent on important issues affecting the island and refuse to stand for justice,they only speak out on personal issues. He wants to be able to sit with the rogue prime mistake just for recognition,when the prime mistake does not give him any importance,he comes mumbling like a child! Apart from that,you’ll never hear his voice,not even when those he represents needs him as he is quite satisfied with earning a salary which he does not deserve! I don’t overstand why on earth will workers have this so-called man represent them,members of this union should chase this guy out! The DTA president spoke now it’s you! You all knew well that the young ……..prime mistake is not capable of governing the island,but you all allowed him to destroy the country! Time will tell !

  5. Neverson st jean
    July 22, 2016

    Why should the govt consult the union on budget matters,it does not make sense. Sir your job is to represent your members in the work place. U had your chances to engage the pm and u guys have been inept.

  6. Louis Bernard
    July 22, 2016

    So what is Mr. Augustus doing, and/or intend to do abouy that other than expressing disappointment?
    There was a time when the port would have been shut down, what prevents Mr. Augustus from doing so now? Is it that Patrick John, or Edison James are not the current Prime Minister?
    That Mr. Augustus, is the price one pays for cutting their nose to spite their face. The disrespect will get worse.

  7. Dawn
    July 22, 2016

    I guess you and your trade union leadership on the island will have to remain disappointed after giving up all the political capital you had–Shame on you. —As they say in Dominica—‘Good for you;;;I glad’.

  8. Kelly
    July 22, 2016

    Smh, why should they be surprised, they have created this supermo by them sleeping and saying give de young man a chance..so feel de hit on u all boss…..

    it’s a dunce, docile,droll and highly ignorant society that would fall asleep on someone’s stewardship of their land…

    but the facts are there to show, Dominica is the Poorest and Slowest Economy in the OECS Block, they are easily mislead fooled..just a sort of people one should careless about…

    allot of chatter on radio, but NO RESULTS, people stealing monies and getting promoted
    it’s just a crabish society gifted with a abundance of resources, but allowing evil to prevail and flourish..wow

  9. jonathan st jean
    July 22, 2016

    The brought this on themselves.They went to bed with the politicians and when they woke up it’s too late.They did not keep their members whipped up into differentiating between loyalty to party and loyalty to the union and what the union stands for.Now Skerritt does not need them because he has bought employer and employee they are irrelevant.Come to grips with the new reality unions shut up,stop crying and start from scratch to rebuild the union movement.The current leadership must get out the way so new leaders who are not Skerritt stooges can move the movement forward.

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