Yesterday, Minister of the Public Service Jose Coye sent out a statement making it clear that, in his opinion, public servants have no basis on which to engage in industrial action. That statement ended by making it clear to those public officers who do engage in industrial action that government will do, "what is in its best interest."
Well today the outspoken President of PSU Dylan Reneau told us that according to the International Labor Organization, Coye's argument holds no water because public servants can justifiably take industrial action against tax measures.
Alfonso Noble,
Government has said and its maintaining that you all need to obey the law, this is not an industrial dispute between government and the Public Service Union.
Dylan Reneau, PSU President
"The PSU had made an approach to the ILO committee of experts and they sat on the issue and now they've widened the issue of industrial dispute, trade dispute, to capture anything and in fact I do have a letter right here from the ILO regional affiliate, Caribbean affiliate, signed by Ms. Barbara Robinson stating that, and I'll read, 'I'd also like to draw your attention that the trade unions can argue that the issue of taxation impacts directly on workers and their economic situation therefore the trade unions have a right to take action in defense of workers's interest.' So certainly the Prime Minister's strategy to try and portray this action are doing as illegal is certainly a false one. PSU cannot, I don't think, will be able to achieve our ends on our own but because I've been the mouthpiece, myself and Miss Moya, it appears as if those it is being pushed by the PSU but certainly all the other trade unions are involved in this action; its only because we've been more vocal than others. Certainly in order to address the overall problem, not only the taxes, but the issue of the debt and the deficit and government spending and corruption, we have to create a coalition of all three of us and thus far it appears that the business people and the unions have been working together but it appears as if the government is at odds with us and we need them to come in. If they are serious about change and willing to change, then it will happen. The action is planned for Friday, a massive demonstration at the National Assembly. The plans thereafter, as we always do in the Trade Union movement, we keep them close to our heart because they knew now that we have this demonstration so they are trying everything to derail that activity that we are trying to do on Friday so that is why we always try to keep things close to our heart. Its essential to get the information out but we try to get it out the way we know best to our members or wait until its almost time for that action to happen so it can be more effective because if you put it out there before time the government will try all sorts of way to try derail it. What the unions are pushing now for is action and that is all that we will, try to achieve. If this government does not show, we have an agreement already, and they have already broken several clauses in that agreement and pushing it all around. We want those things to be acted upon in good faith and we are going to keep up pressure and I certainly believe the Trade Union Congress, all of us know, in this country that the TUC has the power and with the people behind us we even have more power and I think that is why this government is still concerned and they are trying its endeavor best to derail everything we are trying to do."
The Chamber of Commerce has urged its member companies to send representatives to the protest demonstration in Belmopan. The Chamber will not officially be part of the demonstration and has indicated that it will join the NTUCB after the Easter holidays for a joint demonstration.
