WAWU wants end to port workers’ dispute

Augustus believes the dispute should be resolved
Augustus believes the dispute should be resolved

The Waterfront and Allied Workers Union (WAWU) has called for an end to a 13-year-old dispute between port workers and their empolyer, the Dominica Air and Seaport Authority (DASPA)

Secretary Treasurer of WAWU, Kertist Augustus, said at the union’s 18th Biennial Delegates Conference last week that the port branch is concerned the non-sitting of a tribunal which was set up to resolve the dispute between the DASPA and the union.

He said the employees’ wages will be drastically reduced by 33 percent and their employment levels by 27 percent.

“We want the Chairman of the tribunal to arrange for the sitting and the final sitting of the tribunal and to conduct the hearing even if the lawyers representing DASPA is not present in order to bring closure to a 13-year-old tribunal and a 13-year-old dispute,” Augustus stated.

Augustus revealed that the Dominica Employers Federation (DEF) have in fact gotten the green light to Anthony Commodore from the tribunal.

“The DEF is seeking to, and have in fact gotten the green light to remove from the tribunal Mr. Anthony Commodore, a member of the employer’s panel from the tribunal board because it is perceived that he is not always sympathetic to their cause,” he explained.

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4 Comments

  1. MIA
    July 15, 2015

    Wow what goes around comes around! Let us not forget the 47 DAYS strike that took the country to its knees……………… god is good all the time.

  2. John Paul
    July 14, 2015

    What happened to the “Balls” of WAWA? 13 years?You mean they cannot shut down the port the way Zaboka shut it down?
    Someting wong somewhere!

  3. Doc. Love
    July 14, 2015

    I never thought I would live to see the day when the WAWU would be on its knees begging for thirteen years to bring closure to a tribunal matter. In the days of Zarbocar, if Patrick would not just open his mouth to condemn the Pear’s behavior, he would call out his workers. Kertist has been in a leadership position for approximately forty five, why is he still holding on to power, maybe he wants to be in the history books for being a leader in the union for fifty years.

  4. words
    July 14, 2015

    The union has lost its strength.. Gone are the days when port workers would short down activity at the port to get a point across. Mr Augustus it is time to summon your forces on the Port (port workers/stevedores) to get those holding down their progress for over 13 years to respond.. Let us see who has good will or bad will.

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