GRENADA TECHNICAL AND ALLIED WORKERS’ UNION RECONVENED 8TH TRIENNIAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE A SUCCESS

Last Updated on Thursday, 25 April 2013 14:04 Wednesday, 24 April 2013 18:54

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Over two hundred (200) members of the Grenada Technical and Allied Workers’ Union (GTAWU) packed the East Conference Room of the National Stadium yesterday where the 8th Triennial National Conference of the Grenada Technical and Allied Workers’ Union was reconvened.

In a militant mood expressed by several rounds of applause the workers received the report from the Management Committee on the work of the Union over the last three (3) years and the challenges confronting workers in the months ahead. Several resolutions were unanimously passed including the presentation of the Certified Audited Statements of Accounts by the auditing firm Pannell Kerr Forster for the period 2009, 2010 and 2011.

The Conference also passed twenty-one (21) amendments to the Union’s Constitution in order to broaden the democracy and participation of the members and to improve the Union’s efficiency to meet the current challenges. Those changes are now to go before the generalized membership in a workplace ballot within twenty-one (21) days.

The Conference also expressed support and solidarity with Sis. Shirlene Herbert the Chief Shop Steward at CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank whose dismissal the Union has challenged and where in a recent ruling the Ministry deemed that dismissal to be unfair. The Conference unanimously recognized the achievements of the Management Committee over the period including the resolution of a number of grievances and the settlements of several wage negotiations where the Union has won significant benefits for workers including at the St. George’s University, Grenada Ports Authority and at the Grenada Breweries Limited where the workers there received a standing ovation and a salute of their militant struggle.

The Conference also recognized the continued and growing influences of GTAWU within the labour movement regionally and internationally. It applauded the election of Bro. Andre’ Lewis to the 1st Vice Presidency of the Grenada Trades’ Union Council and Bro. Bert Paterson to the post of General Secretary of the Grenada Trades’ Union Council. It applauded as well the work of the President General within the regional trade Union movement and locally.

Meanwhile, the Union has completed its three (3) years strategic plan under the guidance of Dr. Vincent Henry, a Regional Consultant and an expert in strategic planning. The new Management Committee is now tasked to time frame that plan in respect of the collective