General Secretary of the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU), Thomas Letang, has said that the union will “stand and speak out” against what he said id the government’s “effort to destroy the trade union movement.”
He made that statement at a DPSU Solidarity Rally held last week.
Letang encouraged those gathered at the rally that in the event of any actions against the right of workers, the union will stand and speak out.
“As long as our rights to peaceful demonstrations or protests are being threatened, we as a union will stand and speak out. Brothers and sisters, as long as who governs our country is decided by recipients of handouts, and not as a result of critical analysis and assessment by the electorate, we shall stand and speak out,” Letang exclaimed.
He told the listeners to forget about those union leaders who “behave like puppets” and to rally on with the DPSU who has gained respect regionally and internationally in lending their voice on what is right.
“As long as importance is not being placed on the issue of salary revision, in institutions and the government service, we shall stand and speak out,” he said.
Meanwhile, former President of the DPSU, Mervin Anthony, has called on the union members to stand in solidarity with the union.
“I want you to be able to stand for something, something good, something positive, something that determines that you are of wholesome purpose and the Public Service Union offers you that avenue, offers you that privilege, offers you and opportunity that when you sign up to be a member, that when you look at your salary slip every month and you see a twenty dollar reduction, if you are dissatisfied about certain things about the union, you feel proud to be a member of the union,” he exclaimed.
He implores the general membership to “stand fast.”
we will stand and speak with you, we deserve better. they cannot destroy DPSU!!!
This seems more like a proxy for politics than an actual concern in a resolution for the matter at hand. the sad part is that the people affected are caught in the middle. the prime minister is right the civil servants have too much sick days and time off, which in turn affects them because their lack of productivity affects the very same bottom line used to pay them… a joke dat!
The policies of the employer is in part responsible for its employees being sick! bottom line.
Why is union looking for increases for its membership political. It is the Skeritt administration that wants the unions to take wants to give them.
I’v been following the Union stories, and the GenSec is becoming more and more unbelievable. Why does he have to take on a political tone to get his message across? Very shady move on his part, no wonder the people don’t take him seriously.
Oh boy! Why don’t you go ask your so called president about politicising the union? Every move made by him back in the day was to further his personal ambitions and that of the party he supported and was a member of. At least I am not aware of Mr Letang being a member of any political party and pretty sure he is not.
Seems as if Letang is speaking on the opposition’s behalf. Doesn’t sound right!
And you all telling me this man is not in bed with Linton and the UWP?
Where is it the PSU has indicated that they are political advocate for the Opposition????
Where, when, how? If a government is nasty and corrupt we have to say so. If a decent Opposition is advocating for good governance then we support them and promote the principle
What that decent about Dominica’s opposition?
@ viewsexpressed:
If a government is “nasty and corrupt” we have to say so. Some of you get away with a lot. Watch your words. You could get DNO into trouble for posting this. Freedom of speech could also get those who defame the character of others in trouble.
Have you seen the government do any such thing? Can you prove it? This is the same type of words which got Linton into hot water for his vile mouth and tongue why he is sued which costs him an exorbitant amount of money. It appears he will be a pauper when he completes paying those court costs.
What decent Opposition? Based on what I read, does Dominica have one? Some of you do not know the difference of right from wrong. You are one of those. What a shame for a Christian Catholic, a practicing one as you have stated.
“if you are dissatisfied about certain things about your union, you feel proud to be a member of your union”. Really Mr. Anthony what are you really saying to the members? Be dissatisfied and feel proud.
Please enlighten me
Letang…engage with activists and union leaders from neighboring islands to organize a conference that places the Unions’ goals and visions on the front and center. Don’t be reactive. The gov’t is simultaneously taking advantage of your members and garnering their praises at the same time!
If the gov’t has relied on “spying” on your activities that should highlight the fact that they consider you a threat! Use your power wisely!
I am all for worker’s right. I am also for employers right. Employers have a right to value for money, a right to good work attitudes and a commitment to productivity and efficiency; a right to not having to police their workers against petty-theft, back-talk and attitude; a right to a “fair day’s work for a fair days pay”.
We so often get complaints by customers about the poor service in Dominica. I want the unions to speak out about low productivity, laziness and lassez-faire workers in the workplace. I want the unions to show that while they advocate for the right to work for employees, they also understand the right to receive the work yo pay for. Fair is fair!
We lament that salaries are not rising while prices are rising. Well this is true for employers too. Profits are not rising but expenses are rising. With annual pay raises and no increase in productivity, employees will simply price themselves out of a job. It’s that simple.
So true….and all you there supporting and promoting this inept Skerrit and his corrupt Labour government? These guys are very happy people, they defraud the states resources for their bin bobol and fertilizer bobol scam .
Well in days gone by it was Hitler they loved…Mussolini they loved, Idi Amin they loved until they went after their families, arrested and tortured them, while some disappeared and some risk fleeing from the country.
The most dangerous government Dominica has ever seen since adult suffrage is this Skerrit lead Corrupt Labour government. More corruption days are there to be seen, Dominicans are desperate for food, clothing, jobs for their children and blind good luck to happy days.
We like it so!!!!!!!!!!……We poor, we are beggars and Skerrit will feed for life.
You have a serious problem views expressed, while you are bashing the Govt, they a moving the country forward. On the other hand you have continuallydisplay the behavior of a child. We don’t need your political rethrotic, rather we need you to become an active functional person. What % of the DA POPULACE read your craps? You are a burden to society always cretizing and can’t do or say anything constructive.
It is soooo nice to see the odd sensible comment on DNO. Your comment is dead on point and so true.
Too Hard Too Long
you said it well , you are just about right 90%
shame though that you left out the MINISTERS OF GOVERNMENT who all got unjustified, unchallenged , undeserved pay rises from the public purse . Were you Moo Moo back then ?
i jus akxing a queshion?
In order to be strong and believable you must put your political ideolog on the back burner. Respect! be a union leader first, not a political advocate for the opposition that’s conflict or interest.
You must be a child if you can make suck a statement. I suggest that you go do some research into the activities of Charles saverin in the 70’s and come back to tell us your findings