Absence of labour ministry in gov’t worries WAWU

Augustus addressed WAWU's conference on Thursday
Augustus addressed WAWU’s conference on Thursday

Secretary Treasurer of the Waterfront and Allied Workers Union (WAWU), Kertiste Augustus, says the union is concerned that presently there is no government minister whose specific portfolio is labour.

Augustus raised that concern while addressing the union’s 18th Biennial Delegates conference held at the WAWU Headquarters in Roseau on Thursday.

“Of concern to us in the Waterfront and Allied Workers Union is a fact that for the first time in 47 years we do not have a minister whose portfolio is labour,” Augustus said.

According to him the labour portfolio is presently stitched to the Ministry of Justice, National Security and Immigration and based on what has been happening in the Labour Department the union is worried and “we are realizing that will be experiencing severe labour pains.”

Sir Brian said he is shocked there is no Ministry of Labour
Sir Brian said he is shocked there is no Ministry of Labour

Keynote speaker at the conference, former Acting Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Sir Brian Alleyne, said he is shocked that there is specific Ministry of Labour presently.

“As a former Minister of Labour, I am frankly shocked to consider that there is no Ministry of Labour specifically so designated at this time,” he noted. “Because the industrial relations and environment is no less relevant today to the development of Dominica than it ever was. Indeed the issue never disappears…”

He urged the government to take the issue of industrial relations very seriously and to illustrate that seriousness by designating a specific minister and ministry to the issue of industrial relations.

Meanwhile, Augustus is of the view that the conference is taking place at a time when there are many issues being faced by WAWU.

“Our conference is taking place under difficult conditions, such as the gradual increase of the retirement age to 65 and its implications for port workers in particular,” he stated. “We need to revisit that policy and to agree on a waiver for port workers.”

In terms of health, he said, it is particularly difficult since Dominica does not have national health coverage for workers generally, “notwithstanding calls from the WAWU for such.”

“We are making a similar call for severance pay provision to cover the workers who have remained in one company for twenty years and more and who have forced by circumstances to retire,” he explained.

Another challenge of the union, Augustus noted, is the non response of government in relation to the lifting of the ceiling placed on redundancy payment, especially for workers who exceed 20 years of service with a company.

He also stated that not one of the island’s three governments in recent times, the Dominica Labour Party (DLP), the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) and the United Workers Party (UWP), has recognized the contribution of port workers by awarding national recognition, “be it meritorious service or service award of honour.”

“The fundamental question is why are port workers not recognized when all other classification like the teachers, the nurses, the fishermen, the farmers, the policemen and bus drivers, all deserving of their awards, are given national awards?” Augustus questioned.

The conference is being held under the theme: “Expanding and Consolidating for Continued Relevance”.

WAWU is also celebrating its 50th Anniversary as a registered union.

Union members at the conference
Union members at the conference

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25 Comments

  1. The Real Facts
    July 10, 2015

    I am surprised that Dominica does not have a Ministry of Labor.
    Simply put, Dominica should have a Labor Ministry and a Minister of Labor. Why does it not have one? One should be implemented as soon as possible.

    How about a Consumer Protection Department?

    You call Roseau a City? Then operate as a City.

  2. fantastic4
    July 10, 2015

    Is talk and more talk. In a recent comment i reminded that all those so call leaders and professionals all of them fraid the dimple man. All they can do is talk. The JCCC came out with a statement about tendering that jus die; Mr. Leblanc from ACE came out with evidence of blatant corrupt practices in the tendering for the Roseau river wall that just die; Tiani threaten to take gov’t on if they name the airport after his father he say what he will do or wouldn’t do but guess what that just die; Danny Boy say he was paid to burn Mano house then he say is not true he was just getting back at the police guess what that to die; D Easi door have judiciary review for 42 charges that die; I can just go on and on,so Dominicans fool fool – Skerrit can do what he want with all you; because why? all you dead !! yes you all might be walking & talking but you all are living dead’s!! Sherrit playing the mind over matter game. He doesn’t mind and all you doh matter. it’s as simple as that!

  3. Zandoli
    July 10, 2015

    Mr. Augustus are your members that wholly satisfied with tier terms of employment and income levels to the point where you have to worry about national recognition?

    Here is a piece of advice: your people care the most about bread and butter issues; please focus your attention on these things. Keep it simple.

  4. grell
    July 10, 2015

    Dominica is already doomed,a corrupt and unjust nation can never prosper,the devil in control of this counrty.

    • The Real Facts
      July 10, 2015

      You are exaggerating. My relatives and friends who reside in D/ca do not complain.
      You should reside in Russia, the Middle East, Iran and the likes of such countries.

  5. Papa Dom
    July 10, 2015

    Sorry Mr Augustus but WAWU and CSA ceased to relevant once you and saverin had accomplished your goal of getting the freedom party into power. You accepted the emasculation of the unions; saverin became ambassador and you ran away to greener pastures only to return once UWP came into office. Both of you support skerritt in all his foolishness and corruption, so why are you crying now? What has changed? I hear hammers on the radio daily crying about the treatment he and others receive at the hand of the port mgmt but have never heard you make a statement. If you acknowledge that all 3 past govts have not recognised port workers, why didn’t you say any thing before now? On the subject of recognition: while you celebrate 50 years; did you recognise the founders of the Union, some of whom are still alive today? Did you find it fitting to pay respect or give some award to Mr Patrick John, the first leader of the Union? Just a few questions for your consideration.

  6. Business Minded
    July 10, 2015

    The absence of young people in the delegates conference is glaringly astounding. I see the shepherd but I do not see the sheep. Animals know too well that the survival of their species depends on preparing and training the youngsters to take the helm. Maybe the union should spend some energy on recruiting and training young people, rather than the lack of a ministry, because the strength of the union depends on them.

  7. Pondera
    July 9, 2015

    This complain is late. Don’t you think?

    • BELZBOB
      July 9, 2015

      It’s never too late to fight for what is right. Don’t you think?

  8. A Doubting Thomas
    July 9, 2015

    Under the circumstances Mr Augustus we already have 18 ministers. Whydo we need a minister of Labor when our goal as a government is to ensure that our people are totally dependent on hand outs from the government. Whenever there is an upcoming election we know exactly how to create the necessary distraction. If there are no plans to boost the employment rate in Dominica why waste money on having a ministry of labor.
    What matters to us is that we have our ministers well positioned to act as ministers of Labor Party affairs and so far the Dominica people have bought into the concept. The usual diasporans who come to vote us in also understand their role and so s I have always stated we have the people just where we want them.

    • July 10, 2015

      One day, One day kankarday you will get your own handle and you will leave mine alone. Reading through your post reads like a slice of Swiss Cheese.

      Anyway I realize I should not be angry anymore that you could not think of a handle for yourself but instead be flattered that you have found my writings so inspiring that you want to believe you are me and you want others to believe that also, that is why you are using the handle A Doubting Thomas.

      Should I also thank you? And DNO? Well Thank you!!

      10/07/15 08:29

      • A Doubting Thomas
        July 11, 2015

        Why are you pretending to be me. Everyone on DNO know that I am in support of the Roosevelt Skerrit administration no matter what. I cannot stop supporting the very system that brings me and my family great fortune so I make no apologies for my biases even at the ecpense of being rediculed. So you can try to impersonate me if you wish I am eating cow till the cow can no longer stand

  9. The Real Fact
    July 9, 2015

    The PM always know what is best for Dominica. If there is is no ministry of Labor it simpy means that it is not required. Why must tere be a ministry of Labor when it is the ministers hiring there own people. It means that all labor issues must be handled by the PM and the respective Parl Reps in office.
    No matter what the PM does in my opinion he is always correct.

    • The Real Facts
      July 9, 2015

      Why have you chosen to use this name? Why do you not use a different name?
      There are some errors in your comment.

    • July 9, 2015

      Facts as far as I know whenever there is an employment related issue in canada, the Ministry of Labor is the one responsible, work place accident, Ministry of Labor, death in the workplace, Minstry of Labor/Minister of Labor, as far as I know Prime Minister Steven Harper, is not the Minister of Labor in Canada, also the Premier of Ontario is not the Minister of Labor. So why is it ok for skerrit to appoint and create ministries for his pals and not having a Ministry of Labor in Dominica, skerrit keep violating a lot of the Human Rights Code, you condoning each and every wrong doing of skerrit will some day put your hand in your mouth with shame, a question for you, are you one of r he many selling Dominica’s Passport?, seems like you are gaining something from your native coutry PM and is singing for your supper, for some. the grass is not always greener on the other side

      • The Real Facts
        July 10, 2015

        Beware of imposters on this Website!

        The person who calls himself/herself The Real Fact has no sense, is an imposter and is not “The Real Facts”. Note the ‘s’.
        I wished DNO could do something about it to prevent such people using similar names of those who have already chosen them. It appears to be habitual with some people who lack common sense, intelligence, is ignorant and make others believe that another one is the person who wrote the comment.
        DNO stated that its system is not equipped to flag duplicate names.

    • The Real Facts
      July 10, 2015

      :twisted: :mrgreen: :twisted: :mrgreen: :twisted: :mrgreen: :twisted: :twisted: :mrgreen:

  10. Lang Mama
    July 9, 2015

    Who needs a ministry of Labor when we have a minister who travels before the PM to go prepare his coming – Now i am not sure what that means. It is alleged that the minister preceeds the PM to prepare the mattress and to make sure the hotel chocolate mint is the right brand. also toinsure that the rolls Royce has air freshener.
    Who needs a minister of labor when we have a several ministers of NEP -Nasty Elected Politicians. They hire workers while riding and forcing themselves on young gyals in dark kowere. As for thee wan on the coast that talking like he has a googloo in his mouth. Then you have the $1.5 million passport money civil servant who like to touch young gyals and promise jobs.
    You also have thee King liar who makes promises like wild fire and then asking for a pipe shine. Then there is the obese pit bull who abuse them gyals until one gyal father say his last daughter is not going thru what his two other older daughters went thru under that pit bull

  11. Oh Yes
    July 9, 2015

    This unfortunate observation exposes and ratifies the reality of an administration that lacks respect for its people. The lack of creative and effective leadership at the top signifies a backward trend in this country. But again, we only get what we ask for. Mediocrity breeds mediocrity. We placed a viable option aside in order to accept open disrespect for the country’s labour force by not having a government minister officially responsible for workers. Who knows, perhaps it would not have made a difference. What a shame in these modern times.

  12. Politburo
    July 9, 2015

    Ministry on Justice, National Security, Immigration and Labour – Minister Hon Rayburn Blackmore.

    Come on guys stop that dotishness

    • Lang Mama
      July 9, 2015

      As usual Laborites either can’t read, they read right to left or just simply stupid. “there is no government minister whose specific :mrgreen: portfolio is labour” All you I put a big MGreen next to the word specific so that idiot can see read with purpose.

    • Anon
      July 10, 2015

      “According to him the labour portfolio is presently stitched to the Ministry of Justice, National Security and Immigration”

      Mr. Alleyne and Mr.Augustus are referring to the fact that there isn’t a ministry which concentrates solely on labour. Read before you call others dotish.

      • Politburo
        July 10, 2015

        Garcon you making yourself pass more dotish

  13. Looking
    July 9, 2015

    Government has infiltrated all organizations. Unions are obsolete. Its a system of power of fear and intimidation. Its either you with us or against us. If you against us, “crapaud smoke your pipe”

  14. r charles
    July 9, 2015

    MR. . Augustus you are gent LEman I admired during my stay in Dom. but I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE LATE IN SPEAKING UP FOR THE WORKERS OF DOMINICA.

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