The Editor, Sir:

I am not surprised at the editorial comments in The Gleaner of August 28, which sought to portray the National Workers Union in a less than favourable light. Many of us in the leadership of the movement have become quite accustomed to the stereotyping of trade unions, the jaundiced perceptions, and the characterisation of their actions and decisions as always negative.

Certainly, the NWU as a democratic and national institution must expect public scrutiny and attention on the issues which may arise from time to time. The election of a president of the NWU is going to attract public debate since as arguably the largest union in Jamaica, it surely has made an impact on national policies and influenced the developmental path of this country.

I may be bold to say that the trade union movement in Jamaica has certainly been leading the development process over the last 15 years. It was the trade unions, through the umbrella Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions, which placed on the agenda for public debate the issues of globalisation, regionalism and their impact on the Jamaican workers.

It is now beyond debate that the trade union movement has transcended the political divide and has placed the interest of the workers over and above all other partisan or sectarian considerations.

Maturity

That level of maturity is still to be demonstrated in the political arena, and the divisions within the business community and elsewhere continue to be a matter for debate. Lest we forget it is the trade union movement which has provided the clearest vision of a social contract and what it means for Jamaica, which is what the Memorandum of Understanding in the public sector is about.

The democratic expressions over the presidency in the NWU, and however one may perceive the personal responses of Mr. Dobson, Mr. Morrison or myself cannot be characterised, dramatised and generalised as symptomatic of the trade union movement. If ever we were to judge organisations, like the church or the private sector, by the personality traits and idiosyncrasies of one or two of their leaders we would definitely be undermining institutional confidence.

This year's congress of the NWU is examining the worker, his health and economic development. We have not received a single call from the media about the congress theme. Invitations, to attend the pre-congress seminars in Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and St. Catherine, have attracted no response.

The delegates have been discussing three draft resolutions addressing workplace health issues, lifestyles and health as an important policy thrust for macroeconomic stability and long-term development. These are not 19th century themes, they represent visionary leadership that clearly recognise the need to protect and preserve the Jamaican labour force from the worst impact of globalisation.

Agenda

The NWU presidency will be resolved through the democratic process, and matters of succession planning in the union, the political parties and elsewhere will remain a challenge. The NWU's agenda for the next three years must be shaped and defined by the delegates in September not as the end of a process, but the beginning of a struggle to ensure that we have adequate social protection for the vast majority of the Jamaican workers, which includes unemployment benefits, adequate and liveable pension and a healthy and safe workplace.

I am, etc.,

DANNY ROBERTS

Vice-president

Danny_president@yahoo.com