Dear Editor,

Your editorial on Friday, October 7 - "Unions and their leaders less relevant" - raised several interesting issues that are worthy of a response of some kind. You posed the question of whether unions are becoming increasingly irrelevant.  The editorial said:  "Workers should question if these bodies are useful to them or if the unions merely exist to fund the lifestyles of their leaders".

Article 24(1) of the constitution of The Bahamas grants persons in this country the right "to form or belong to trade unions or other associations for the protection" of their rights.  Therefore, one of the primary reasons that people form and belong to trade unions is because they believe they have certain rights that are worthy of, or need, protecting.  Trade unions exist because there is often an imbalance in power between employers and employees to influence decisions that are made about one's job, pay and conditions of employment.  By joining together in a union with other workers (the old 'strength in numbers' concept), there is more chance for workers to have a voice and influence regarding things at work over which they otherwise would have no control.

Unfortunately, the editorial does not address the situation that exists in this country where workers are denied the right to be represented by a union through a combination of manipulation, denial and intimidation of the unionization process by their employers; the misguided actions of some 'wanna-be' union leaders; and/or inactivity, delay or failure to act on the part of the Ministry of Labour.

Your newspaper has previously reported instances of where workers rights have frequently been frustrated by these groups.  The truth of the matter is that unions have their place in society and the day when they become irrelevant and useless will be a sad one indeed.  While some union leaders might have abused their offices and the trust reposed in them by their members, this alone is not sufficient to lump all of them into one pot as being avaricious.  What is required is that the members should demand greater accountability from their leaders while upgrading their own knowledge of the union's finances, constitution and policies.

Meanwhile, unions themselves will have to change and adapt to the new employment environment of the future, which will bring with it things such as outsourcing, performance management systems, work-at-home schemes, incentive payments instead of annual raises and more - all of which will affect the unions' ability to recruit and retain members.

Your editorial questioned the usefulness of trade unions.  Let me list some of their 'usefulnesses' for you:

o They obtain and provide a range of benefits for their members, such as medical insurance,
pensions, training programs, legal advice and representation in workplace disputes
o Collective bargaining on behalf of their members for better wages and better working conditions
o Industrial action through strikes, go-slows or work-to-rule in pursuit of members' rights
o And, political activity, campaigning and lobbying to promote legislation or policies favorable to the interests of their members or all workers as a whole.
The criticism levelled in your editorial is all the more cynical coming from a newspaper that is itself a member of a union, namely the Audit Bureau of Circulation.
 
Yours, etc.,
VINCENT WALLACE WHITFIELD

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