Labour: Confronting the Challenges of the 21st Century
Panel Discussion: :Labour Confronting the Challenges of the 21st Century. 13th June, 2018 The theme for the discussion was "Labour: Confronting the Challenges of the 21st Century." This theme was indeed timely as many of the issues discussed had been pulled from the underlying tenets which have been characteristic of the public discourse around labour issues. The four member panel did not disappoint those gathered. The evening started off with, Ozzi Warwick, Chief Education and Research Officer for the Oilfield’s Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU). He focused on the challenge of representing workers who are hired by Multinationals. His theme was, Multinationals: Steps to addressing the changing dynamics for representing workers employed by multi national and trans national corporations. Warwick stressed on the importance of seeing the social impact of multinationals and that this impact must be treated as seriously as we treat with industrial relations. During his presentation, it was highlighted that international solidarity among sector unions is an important strategy going forward to address the ever increasing presence of multinationals and the challenges this dynamic poses to Trade Unions. Also well received was the presentation by the College’s own Ms Paula Bonas, Lecturer in the Department of Labour Studies. Her sub theme was Gender: Combating the glass ceiling within working class institutions. Ms Bonas started by asking the audience to consider the concept of the glass ceiling and then to put it in a Caribbean social context. This no doubt increases the challenges of combating gender biases. However, all was not lost as Ms Bonas was keen to point out the shifting possibilities as women achieve high office throughout the region and present a new paradigm and new possibilities for younger women coming forward who dare to challenge the status quo. A major theme which has been central to many discussions on the local labour movement has been the question of unity. Dr Jerome Teelucksingh, History Lecturer at the University of the West Indies was given the task to discuss this perennial debate under the sub theme: Unity: breaking down internal working class barriers - bridging the gap between unionised workers and non unionised workers and "blue collar and white collar workers". The consensus was that he did not disappoint. Dr Teelucksingh traced moments of collaboration and also identified some historical ‘bogeys’ which are affecting the unification prospects for the movement. He also challenged the Trade Union movement to do more to connect workers regardless of their status or their affiliation. Rounding off what was an excellent evening at the CLR James auditorium was Miss Gabrielle Gellineau who focused on the sub theme: “Legislation: Examining how legislation has created our current paradigm in which labour operates and the way in which legislative changes must be leveraged to effect a positive paradigm shift.” Drawing on her wealth of experience a practitioner, Miss Gellineau walked those persons gathered through the current body of legislation which in the main determines our industrial relations environment. She also placed, for discussion, several recommendations which in her opinion would see workers’ rights expanded. A case in point was the introduction of legislation beyond the Minimum Wages Act which would see a basic set of rights enjoyed by all workers because as it stands the Act only covers workers who meet the minimum wage threshold identified therein.
Panel Discussion: :Labour Confronting the Challenges of the 21st Century. 13th June, 2018 The theme for the discussion was "Labour: Confronting the Challenges of the 21st Century." This theme was indeed timely as many of the issues discussed had been pulled from the underlying tenets which have been characteristic of the public discourse around labour issues. The four member panel did not disappoint those gathered. The evening started off with, Ozzi Warwick, Chief Education and Research Officer for the Oilfield’s Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU). He focused on the challenge of representing workers who are hired by Multinationals. His theme was, Multinationals: Steps to addressing the changing dynamics for representing workers employed by multi national and trans national corporations. Warwick stressed on the importance of seeing the social impact of multinationals and that this impact must be treated as seriously as we treat with industrial relations. During his presentation, it was highlighted that international solidarity among sector unions is an important strategy going forward to address the ever increasing presence of multinationals and the challenges this dynamic poses to Trade Unions. Also well received was the presentation by the College’s own Ms Paula Bonas, Lecturer in the Department of Labour Studies. Her sub theme was Gender: Combating the glass ceiling within working class institutions. Ms Bonas started by asking the audience to consider the concept of the glass ceiling and then to put it in a Caribbean social context. This no doubt increases the challenges of combating gender biases. However, all was not lost as Ms Bonas was keen to point out the shifting possibilities as women achieve high office throughout the region and present a new paradigm and new possibilities for younger women coming forward who dare to challenge the status quo. A major theme which has been central to many discussions on the local labour movement has been the question of unity. Dr Jerome Teelucksingh, History Lecturer at the University of the West Indies was given the task to discuss this perennial debate under the sub theme: Unity: breaking down internal working class barriers - bridging the gap between unionised workers and non unionised workers and "blue collar and white collar workers". The consensus was that he did not disappoint. Dr Teelucksingh traced moments of collaboration and also identified some historical ‘bogeys’ which are affecting the unification prospects for the movement. He also challenged the Trade Union movement to do more to connect workers regardless of their status or their affiliation. Rounding off what was an excellent evening at the CLR James auditorium was Miss Gabrielle Gellineau who focused on the sub theme: “Legislation: Examining how legislation has created our current paradigm in which labour operates and the way in which legislative changes must be leveraged to effect a positive paradigm shift.” Drawing on her wealth of experience a practitioner, Miss Gellineau walked those persons gathered through the current body of legislation which in the main determines our industrial relations environment. She also placed, for discussion, several recommendations which in her opinion would see workers’ rights expanded. A case in point was the introduction of legislation beyond the Minimum Wages Act which would see a basic set of rights enjoyed by all workers because as it stands the Act only covers workers who meet the minimum wage threshold identified therein.