THE JAMAICA Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) has taken a strange stance that could undermine the effectiveness of one of the linchpins of the industrial relations system. The unions decided to boycott a meeting of the Labour Advisory Committee (LAC) because of strained relations with the Minister of Labour.
One issue appears to be the January 7 court decision to fine medical technologists for staging illegal strike action in January 2003. As we understand it, the unions had expected the minister to have taken a more lenient approach to the illegal action of the technologists who reportedly apologised for their action.
We are not aware of all the issues involved, but the unions are to meet with the Prime Minister before attending any meeting of the LAC, despite the minister having extended an olive branch in writing to them to meet to discuss the issues.
What are we to assume by this approach of the unions? Is it that the law must be implemented in respect of employers only when breaches occur, as in the case of United Estates Limited?
The managing director was found by the court in April 1997 to have breached Section 4 of the Labour Relations and Industrial Disputes Act (LRIDA) for dismissing and penalising workers in the exercise of their rights to be members of the union, and was fined accordingly.
Too often, breaches of the LRIDA have taken place for illegal industrial action in essential services or refusal to obey orders of the IDT to resume work by a given date. The authorities, for the most part, have adopted a policy of 'see no evil, hear no evil'. It is of the utmost importance that we develop order in industrial relations and display respect for agreed procedures on the part of workers, their unions and management.
The other unfavourable aspect of this matter is the reluctance of the unions to discuss the issues at the LAC, the tripartite body which was set up some 40 years ago to deal with labour issues. Why could not the unions have tried to resolve their differences there, before seeking the intervention of the Prime Minister a clear case of 'the cart going before the horse'. Or are there deeper and fundamental issues involved?
We urge the minister and unions to quickly resolve their differences in the interest of industrial harmony. The Jamaica Employers Federation, the third party in the social partnership and in the LAC, should assist in smoothing the way to a return to constructive dialogue.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
