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| Bert La Touche |
One of Grenada's oldest trade unions, the Grenada Manual, Maritime and Intellectual Workers Union (GMMIWU) has walked out of negotiations with the management of the Grenada Airports Authority due to the presence of a political activist of the ruling New National Party (NNP) government.
Informed sources told GRENADA TODAY that GMMIWU boss, Bert La Touche refused to continue a negotiating session with the airport authority due to the presence of Labour Consultant, Anslem De Bourg as part of the negotiating team assembled by the state-run body.
According to a source, La Touche has since written to Education and Labour Minister, Claris Charles to protest the actions of De Bourg who is an executive member of the ruling party.
He spoke of the GMMIWU leader expressing some "real and genuine fears" that the Labour Consultant would be engaging in conflict of interest.
"If there is a breakdown in talks then the two sides would be forced to go to the Ministry of Labour and the same De Bourg for arbitration", he said.
The source said that an annoyed La Touche did not waste time with the airport authority and quickly walked out of the planned meeting on seeing De Bourg inside the room.
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| De Bourg |
He spoke of La Touche being adamant that he would not sit down and talk with the airports authority as long as the government-paid employee was part of the negotiations.
Over the years, the Mitchell government has faced constant criticisms of wanting to influence and control most organisations and groups in the country including the trade unions and church bodies.
De Bourg was brought into the government and placed in the Ministry of Labour after he lost the presidency of the Commercial & Industrial Workers Union (CIWU).
The ex-CIWU President is a product of the ill-fated 1979-83 Grenada Revolution of late marxist leader Maurice Bishop.
