Gov't to reap whirlwind on labour issue

Lloyd Maxwell, Contributor

The protracted delay in settling the dispute between the Government and its employees over the implementation of a contractual agreement is troubling, and gives the impression of a lack of sincerity on the part of the Government.

The Government's attempt to modify the contract on terms which are not satisfactory to the workers will only serve to exacerbate the situation. It would appear that the Government's main intention is to repudiate a section of the contract; and this is untenable and repugnant. I am of the view that despite the economic realities of the country, if the Government is serious in its efforts to arrive at a negotiated settlement, a way can be found to do so without jeopardising economic recovery.

The Government is playing tough under the pretext of good management, but the sad reality is that it has a history of always choosing the wrong issues on which to play tough. In this context, the Government might claim superior knowledge of the economy as the raison d'être which forces them to proceed along the path they have proposed.

accelerated borrowing

However, John Maxwell, author and motivational speaker, once said, "People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care." Truth be told, all the evidence points to this Government as an uncaring one. On the other hand, the Government seems oblivious to the effect the whole dispute is having on productivity and on the welfare of the workers and their families. How does one give of one's best in circumstances where one's employer seems not to value the importance of its most valuable assets, ie its human resources, and treat them so contemptible?

Successive governments have borrowed extensively from local and international organisations, and this Government has accelerated the pace of borrowing to new heights. What can we expect from our Government in honouring these contractual obligations? Will Jamaica be brought into disrepute by the Government repudiating a portion of these honest debts on the pretence that the economy has deteriorated? By its handling of the contractual obligations to the workers? What lesson do they want us to learn regarding our own debt obligations? Can we now adopt the Brer Anancy approach and tell the Government and other debtors that they have to write off a portion of our debts if they want us to commence repayment?

As for the workers' representatives in all of this, they deserve our sympathy. It appears that in their quest for cooperation, they have extended themselves so far that they have been gelded without even realising it. The Government should not aggravate the workers any more, nor force them to take any action which will be detrimental to the country. The Golding administration must do the honest thing and settle the outstanding debt to the workers.

Enough is enough!

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