EDITORIAL - Why Mr Morrison should go quietly

History is, in a way, repeating itself at the National Workers' Union (NWU) - and again it is revealing a failure of leadership as well as scant adherence to rules by an organisation that supposedly has its foundation in the principle of democracy.

In the process, the union's outgoing president and 'retired' island supervisor, Vincent Morrison, has his dignity impaired and stocks diminished from when he assumed its leadership seven years ago.

But perhaps we ought not to be surprised with events in the NWU. It may be merely just another manifestation of the thrashing about of Jamaica's trade unions, given their failure to adapt to a changed labour market, exacerbated by the global economic stringencies.

It is useful to recall that the NWU, which is affiliated to the governing People's National Party (PNP), had its birth in crisis in 1952. In an ideological battle, the PNP purged the leaders of its left wing, the so-called 'Four Hs' - Richard Hart, Arthur Henry and the Hill brothers, Frank and Ken. One of the fallouts from the split was the loss by the PNP of then trade union affiliate, the Trade Union Congress, led by Frank Hill.

In its more than six decades of existence, the NWU has faced many crises, but none more profound than the current one, which carries echoes of the union's formation: Mr Morrison is part of a move to split one of the NWU's affiliates, the Union of Clerical, Allied and Supervisory Employees.

BRUISING ELECTION

Ironically, too, in Mr Morrison's departure from the NWU's top post, there are echoes of his arrival. In 2006, Clive Dobson, then 71, was the NWU's president and was about to face a biennial congress, where presidents are elected. He attempted to wring undertakings from then vice-presidents Morrison and Danny Roberts that they would not challenge him. In the end, Mr Dobson's bid withered and Mr Morrison won a bruising election. In time, Mr Roberts left the union.

Significantly, the NWU's by-laws require that its staff retire at 65 - which was reached by Mr Morrison earlier this year - unless allowed an extension by its 32-member general executive council (GEC). The GEC is the highest decision-making body, outside the congress, none of which has been held since Mr Morrison's election.

Mr Morrison did not formally apply for an extension, but insists that he was forced out of by a cabal, led by General Secretary Granville Valentine. On claims that Mr Valentine, whose post gives him charge of the day-to-day management of the union, is on to a power grab, we cannot comment.

However, it says something about Mr Morrison, we believe, that he appeared to have lost the support of the majority of the GEC. Further, it must be an indictment on his leadership that during his tenure, the NWU missed three biennial congresses. We do not accept the union's weak finances as a credible argument for failure to meet this basic obligation to democracy.

Whether or not Mr Morrison was pushed by Granville Valentine, the fact is that the NWU has rules, including on the age of retirement. They, as in other institutions, should be respected. Our advice to Mr Morrison, as it was to Mr Dobson, is that his dignity requires that he go quietly.

Additionally, the NWU is clearly in need of an overhaul.

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