Jones expresses concern about union linkages with political leaders

MINISTER of Education Ronald Jones has lambasted those trade unionists whom he believes enter politics for self-serving reasons.

The outspoken Minister was speaking at the Democratic Labour Party’s St. Andrew branch meeting at the Alleyne School over the weekend, where he said that many trade unionists who had turned politicians in the past were turning in their graves as a result of what occurs today.

“When we should be celebrating bright young committed focussed, spirited young leaders in the industrial relations movement, what we have seen happening is that now politicians are becoming industrial relations leaders.”

“They became politicians to advance the cause of the labour movement. Today what I am seeing among some, is that there are politicians who have become trade union leaders who are there to advance their own cause and secondly because of the Barbados Labour Party,” he opined.

Saying that rallies are allowed as part of our democracy, he expressed concern that union leaders can be seen taking a stand with a political leader. “Marching up and down. What does that say? I looked at an election that will take place shortly, and we have to be candid. Every one of those persons on that particular side are all members of the BLP – so they are running as a team. They could as well call themselves ‘team BLP,’” he argued.

Jones, while giving a comprehensive look at the state of education, turned his focus to the state of the economy and the measures taken in the 90s, which he said no-one wanted to revisit. He said that after trimming, just under 1 800 persons had to be sent home. It is against this backdrop that he refuted claims that 2 500 persons were rehired.

He expressed concern that there are persons who work in sensitive areas of government who are trade unionists, which he said could be problematic. “From the time you become a politician or act like a politician, you should not be in sensitive areas of the government.”

“If you had put back in 2 500 after you laid off just under 1800, the salary bills would go up. It is rising as a result of the increments built into salary scales for those who are not at the maximum point at the salary scale. What was said from the beginning is that we would hold constant the numbers unless it is absolutely necessary to hire somebody in a very sensitive area of need.

“There are persons from my Ministry who went home. Many of them were hired as persons retired... .They were coming back gradually, and it was happening across a lot of Ministries where somebody went home and you brought somebody back in; if you didn’t need to, you didn’t – because each man still has to eat bread,” he said. (JH)