Trades and Labour Union builds on Bradshaw’s vision...says Chairman Thomas
By VonDez Phipps
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
 |
| (L-R) President of the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union Clifford Thomas; Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Sam Condor in front of RLB statue |
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ONE day after National Heroes Day (Sep. 17), Clifford Thomas, Chairman of the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union, announced that the present day union is drawing on the accomplishments of Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw for guidance to success.
In an exclusive interview with SKNVibes, Thomas emphasised his pleasure in the ceremony held in honour of the Father of the Nation at the RLB Memorial Community Park and added that Bradshaw’s work has laid the foundation to build on.
Thomas mentioned that Bradshaw’s contributions toward trade unionism played a major role in providing fairness, equality, stability and productivity, and were complimentary to the tripartite institution including employees, employers and the government.
“Bradshaw was a pivotal leader of the Trade Union Movement, and so we must pay our respects to him for his contributions in the advancement of workers’ rights. Our organisation needs to have a past to buttress it...his contributions act as a buttress. He was a visionary and his vision is still relevant today and will be for the next 25 years. Indeed, he is a hero for all times.
“He [Bradshaw] spearheaded a lot of legislation upon which most of our current working relations and labour laws are based...a blueprint on which we are working.”
Thomas explained that, as time goes on and the conditions and sectors of employment change, the Trades and Labour Union may have to make a few changes to what is done now in order for it to be suitably applied to the present day situation, without reinventing the wheel. ~~Adz:Right~~
“Our major sector of sugar production for which Bradshaw had fought for has been replaced with tourism, and so we have to be prepared to alter his approach in order to accommodate these changes.
“Also, labour relations were of a confrontational nature but our modern day situation requires cooperation, wherein the mutual benefit of each party is sought and that the nature of dispute settlement provides that all the partners are winners.”
The current administration of the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union is considering rebuilding its membership into being “more inclusive to deal with all issues and ensure that workers’ rights are first priority”.
