Part 1 acknowledged the unions’ concerns to avoid exploitation of workers through timetabling of work on bank holidays and other festive holidays. We recognised this as a worthy initiative but pointed out there were those who were willing to increase their earnings by working on such occasions or be part of a 24-hour shift system.
For many years the unions appeared to have had as their primary concerns increased wages, a shorter work week and security of tenure through rights covered by the Severance Pay Act and unfair dismissal legislation. These are indeed laudable achievements but it is high time to shift focus to other areas which can be considered to address deepening the democratization of ownership.
With the advent of the concept of the global village and consequently exposure to regional and international ownership of businesses and key sectors of the economy, it is of major importance that there is a redesigning of the agenda of the unions. Basic terms and conditions of work can be said to be well entrenched.
What is needed now is a movement towards wealth actualisation through share ownership, stock options and participative management. To achieve these, given our colonial history and its seemingly unalterable entrenchment, will require a strong and continuing educational process which, to be effective in the shortest possible time, should, of necessity, commence in our primary schools and be a permanent fixture of the curriculum to tertiary level.
To complement this new thrust will require calls that put work at Christmas, Easter and other major festivals as slavery to cease. Going hand in hand with this must be encouragement of housewives, particularly those who have benefited from secondary and tertiary education at the country’s expense, to be willing to return to the labour force even on a part-time basis. Diversification of our tourism product will require all hands on deck.
We have seen the achievements of the cooperative movement not only by its relocation to Broad Street but more so its acquisition of and entry to the mortgage market and financial services sector. If we are to offer stronger resistance to takeovers of major businesses and public utilities, share ownership must be significantly local, coupled with a vibrant stock exchange fortified by suitable legislation.
Our unions need to identify no longer as wage negotiators but as championing the holistic development of their membership.
We shall see.
