From left: Minister of Labour, Senator Dr. Esther Byer-Suckoo, speaking to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator Maxine McClean; and President of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), Akanni McDowall, at yesterday’s service at the St. Matthias Anglican Church to mark the beginning of NUPW’s week of activities.
THE National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) is not backing down from representing the interest of its membership when injustice rears its ugly head, and no political agenda is involved.
NUPW President, Akanni McDowall, is cautioning that the Union will remain firm in its resolve to fight injustices perpetrated against its membership, because quality representation for workers is the Union’s goal and delivering equality for all is the defining purpose.
The President was speaking yesterday, at a service held at the St. Matthias Anglican Church, to mark the beginning of NUPW’s Week of Activities.
Also attending the service was Minister of Labour, Senator Dr. Esther Byer-Suckoo and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator Maxine McClean, along with NUPW’s General Secretary, Roslyn Smith; Deputy General Secretary, Delcia Burke; and other members of the Union.
McDowall, who said NUPW is refocusing, repositioning and rebuilding with God’s help, stressed that the Union is still on a learning curve and noted that mistakes will be made from which “we ought to learn”.
He assured that NUPW is not averse to advice and will welcome any positive guidance as the members are mindful that there is always room for improvement.
“In this regard, it would be remiss of me not to point out for those not familiar with the mechanics and intricacies of industrial relations, that our seemingly resolute positions on matters such as salary negotiations are not taken willy-nilly, but on the advice of those skilled in the art of such matters after proper analysis and information,” he said.
On that note, the President unequivocally stressed that negotiating processes are not entered into with political motive or intent, but out of a sincere willingness to represent the membership to the best of their ability.
He said the NUPW is unique in the sense that its membership and by extension decision-makers are drawn from both sides of the political divide, and the tendency to label “us one way or the other when our requests on behalf of membership run counter to those on the other side, cannot stand up to the scrutiny and are baseless and without foundation”.
“Our assumption of office can be really described as a baptism of fire, having been confronted at an early stage in our first five months in office with the kinds of industrial relations issues which have tested our mettle to the limit,” he said.
McDowall explained that since April 2015, NUPW has been continually confronted with matters, which have tested its resolve to the limit. He noted that such challenges are not peculiar to that union’s Executive alone, but appear to be part of a worldwide phenomenon to grind labour into the ground. (AH)