BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – MOST countries in the world recognised yesterday (May 1) as International Labour Day, and in St. Kitts the Opposition Labour Party joined hundreds of workers and members of the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union to march in solidarity for what they described as the “wrongful treatment of many in the working class”.
Opposition Member of Parliament the Hon. Konris Maynard explained that over the past 85 years the Trades and Labour Union had fought seriously for the benefits of the working class in St. Kitts and Nevis.
He added that the party members went out to show their support for a number of reasons, including “that they are disgusted with the way workers are being treated in St. Kitts and Nevis. For those who have been victimised...it doesn’t mean those who would have been fired from their jobs only; victimisation also means as a civil servant you are asked to sit in a corner with no work to do”.
Maynard alleged that over 300 civil servants were “victimised in one way or the other”.
Former Prime Minister now Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas told SKNVibes that those who participated in the rally were enthused as they walked to show support for the working class.
“The people are supporting the universal march that people would demonstrate at this time. It is a show of solidarity of workers in St. Kitts and Nevis, in the region and also the world over.”
The outspoken SKNLP Leader indicated that it is more than a march, noting that workers in St. Kitts and Nevis became organised back in 1932 with the creation of the Labour Movement.
“That is why you see the celebration and the celebratory mood you have in this march today (yesterday). It is a celebration of 85 years of workers struggle, success and advancement, and that is what you are seeing on the streets of Basseterre. But it is more that! We said this should be a march, a demonstration of protest and challenge to the policies of the Timothy Harris regime.”
Meanwhile, President of the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union, Joseph O’Flaherty emphasised that the march was to bring to the fore some of the problems affecting members of that body and the broader workforce.
He pointed to cost of living as one of the problems affecting many workers in the Federation.
However, with minimum wage being increased several years ago, O’Flaherty does not believe that a rash decision should be made for an increase at this time but rather it be re-evaluated.
“It is time for us to have that discussion with the other members,” he declared.
O’Flaherty stated that there is a serious issue with unionism. He explained that associations are “suffering from this past ailment, whereby Kittitians and Nevisians were discouraged from joining unions and we still have that problem today”.
He noted that the annual march in St. Kitts is unique because it has the Trade Union and the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party coming together to walk in solidarity for workers.
