A Time To Build Up

There is no better time to think about the need and importance of building better relationships, commitment and honesty in the job environment in Anguilla like now when the subject of labour relations is high in the air.

Anguilla is a progressive society yet bedeviled with some unfortunate ills such as a growing crime rate. But if employer/employee relations were to become a problem as a result of changing attitudes and of a lack of twosome cooperation and poor productivity, our situation, despite our economic outlook and prosperity, would be a sad one.

If the Government is really ready to turn its attention to improving the social aspects of life in Anguilla, now that economic development has taken off, then labour relations must be one of them. Yet the Government is powerless, to a great extent, to accomplish much unless employers and employees recognise that most of the burden to ensure job satisfaction and harmonious relationships lies with them.

As it stands, the Labour Department cannot function properly as a bargaining agent for workers although it has at its disposal legislation like the Fair Labour Standards Ordinance and Minimum Wage Regulations to follow. It best operates as an arbiter working to ensure peaceful co-existence, understanding and cooperation in the job market.
The real and recognised agency to handle disputes and to bargain for employees is a workers’ trade union. But the history of such attempts to provide unionised representation in Anguilla has shown that it is more or less a waste of time as Haydn Hughes, an activist for workers’ rights, has acknowledged in this week’s panel discussion when he delivered a very thought-provoking presentation on “Changing Attitudes in the Workplace.” One of the problems militating against the existence of a union is the failure of workers to pay their dues and their general disinterest until they are faced with some on-the-job difficulty which they are unable to handle themselves. True trade unionism cannot function and flourish like that.

At present there is enabling legislation on the law books in Anguilla to facilitate the formation and functioning of a trade union but, with the lack of public interest and commitment union representation cannot be forced on anybody.

Until workers come to the realisation of value of a union, the Government’s Labour Department must continue its basic non-partisan role. On the other hand, employers and employees must find ways to strengthen their cooperation and mutual respect for each other’s rights, thus ensuring satisfaction and productivity in the job environment and in Anguilla on a whole. The building of good relations between employers and workers is a key element in the peaceful economic development and wellbeing of our island.