The battle lines have been clearly drawn between the powerful Technical and Allied Workers Union (TAWU) and the pro-government Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC).

In an address to the nation, the union's President General, Senator Chester Humphrey warned that the industrial peace and stability of the country is being threatened as a result of an impasse between TAWU and CCC which has been awarded most of the road building contracts by government.

He said it is clear that the company which is controlled by Middle East businessmen, has embarked on anti-union activities on the island. "Our union will not allow any employer to disregard the provisions of an industrial agreement", he added.

Sen. Humphrey told Grenadians that CCC recently circulated a document asking workers to indicate whether they wanted the union to represent them or not.

However, he said none of the workers signed the document. The TAWU boss accused the company of lowering the rates of pay of some workers. "This company which has been successful in getting every major public contract since 1995 with the exception of the Melville Street Port development seems to think it is law unto itself", he remarked.

One of the brothers of National Security Minister, Major Einstein Louison is a key player with the CCC group. Sen Humphrey announced that the union is in an advanced stage of preparations to commence industrial action on all construction sites of CCC projects in the country.

There are fears that a protracted dispute between TAWU and CCC could have implications for Grenada's preparations for Cricket World Cup 2007. The company has been hired by the Keith Mitchell-led government to build two bridges and a major piece of road in the city that is critical to the hosting of the world cup.

TAWU alleges that CCC is bent on importing Guyanese construction workers to complete the project if the union resorts to strike action on its projects. CCC has indicated that it was unwilling to sign any new agreement with TAWU unless Article 22 was amended by expunging the automatic renewal provision contained in Section 1.

TAWU said that for the past three months, the company has withheld the payment of union dues and service contributions that were deducted from workers, According to Sen. Humphrey, the head of CCC's Finance Department, Jean El Moussa informed the union that the company considers the outgoing collective agreement to be non-existence and that there was currently no agreement between the two sides.

CCC is presently carrying out works on Lowthers Lane, Tempe Road Rehabilitation, Tempe Bridge and Queen's Park new bridge.

In recent years, TAWU has called three strikes on CCC projects with all of them ending in victory for workers. The union has called on all its members and other workers on the island to rally to the call of solidarity for CCC workers.