WHY SUPPORT TRADE UNIONS?
This columnist supports trade unionism and as the Opposition’s spokesman on Labour, this columnist has urged the PLP to continue its traditional support for Labour. But make no mistake about it: a trade union is a trade union and a political party is political party. The two have different roles to perform and different functions to carry out. No trade union will control this columnist if he were to become Minister for Labour. The Minister for Labour must act for every one. However, it is clear that trade unions perform two valuable functions. The first is the narrow function of improving salary and working conditions on the job site which is organized by the union. But secondly, they play a role in the strengthening of democracy and the general upliftment of the standards in the community. The Bahamas is the prime example where constitutional changes of great significance were brought about because of the trade unions and because of Labour. One has only to took to the Burma Road riots
