Dear Editor,

Across the world, workers have been taking ever more strike action against their employers and also against the aggressive neo-liberal governments that choose to side with capital rather than labour, squeezing the public sector in preference to taxing the super wealthy.

The year 2023 was a record one for strikes in the USA, as people struggled with rampant inflation, benefiting then Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump against a smug Democratic Party that didn’t accept its plight. Amazon workers were out in thousands on Black Friday protesting their oppressive work load. This year there have been general strikes in Argentina, Northern Ireland, Guinea, Nigeria, and right now Italy.

In our region, workers in Trinidad and Tobago are currently in battle with their Government, which has been dismantling trade union rights. This includes port workers who have shut down the maritime terminal at Port of Spain, electricity, petroleum and postal workers, Caribbean Airlines pilots, and workers on The University of the West Indies campus.

They are demanding the recognition of all trade unions and their rights, the re-establishment of collective bargaining, the right of organised workers to withdraw their labour, and the unconditional lifting of injunctions against strikers and their unions.

When public sector workers in that country would not accept a pay rise of 4 per cent over six years, they were threatened with 4 per cent over 10 years instead. At the same time government officials have awarded themselves rises upwards of 40 per cent. Subsidies are being reduced, retirement age increased together with ever more precarious contract work.

Although Jamaica’s recent record on such matters has not been without blemish, it is heartening to see the prime minister currently giving fulsome support to our overworked, poorly-paid, disrespected-by-management, contract hotel workers. “We support the workers of the tourism industry as they seek fair compensation and better work conditions,” he said, adding that providing housing for them will now be a priority. Taking the prime minister at his word, contracts with hotel investor groups must now include full provision of staff housing, fully-funded pensions, pay rates at least twice the minimum wage, and working hours in line with International Labour Organisations conventions, especially no forced overtime. No less should be expected of Jamaica’s flagship industry, as was true in the heyday of the bauxite industry. Otherwise, why bother with it if it is a return to the plantation?

In the meantime, given the challenges faced by our sister and brother workers in Trinidad and Tobago, messages of support should be sent to the National Trade Union Centre (NATUC) at natuctt@gmail.com. It will be taking joint action this week Friday, December.

Paul Ward

pgward72@gmail.com