VETERAN trade unionist Danny Roberts has resigned from the National Workers Union (NWU), saying that he wishes to explore a number of options in the broader field of labour relations.

Roberts, a former vice-president of the NWU, told the union's acting general secretary Senator Navel Clarke that his resignation would take effect on September 30.

"There is little doubt that the trade union movement has a crucial role to play in defining Jamaica's future, and I contend that... there are areas and opportunities to explore beyond the confines of the trade union organisation," Roberts said in his resignation letter.

"I feel compelled at this time to expend my energies and intellect to exploring some of these areas in the furtherance of a cause to which I am deeply committed."

Contacted for comment yesterday, Roberts said he would be "exploring some options which include consultancy in human resource development and management issues".

Roberts said he would not be leaving the area of labour relations altogether as he would be branching out to another level where his skills and knowledge can be utilised more effectively for the development of Jamaica.

His resignation from the NWU, he said, will not immediately affect his position as vice-president of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions.

Regarded as one of the more forward-thinking trade unionists today, Roberts has consistently advocated that the union movement needs to be so synergised that it can have an in-house economist, research analyst and lawyer to respond to the various demands of the times.

"The trade unions must look at recruiting people with higher levels of education to represent the interests of the workers, many of whom are much more educated than the trade unionists themselves," he had said in an interview with the Observer some years ago.

Roberts, who made an unsuccessful bid for the NWU presidency in 2006, losing to Vincent Morrison, is also chairman of the Michael Manley Foundation.

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