Two of the most strong-willed personalities on the island, trade unionist Chester Humphrey and General Manager of the state-controlled Grenada Ports Authority (GPA), Ambrose Phillip are heading for a major show down as they continue to trade punches at each other in public.

Sen. Humphrey, the President-General of the powerful Technical and Allied Workers Union (TAWU) is representing GPA employees and demanding that their pay be brought in line with that of the more lucrative members of the Seamen and Waterfront Workers Union (SWWU).

Both Phillip and Humphrey are accusing each other of ruling their respective organisations with iron-clad fists. According to Sen. Humphrey, TAWU would continue with its battle against the Ports Authority for equal pay and better working conditions for workers.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference on Monday in respond to the demands being made by the union, Phillip labelled them as nothing but "industrial terrorism" and called on TAWU to be pragmatic and to bargain in good faith.

Negotiations between the two ended in deadlock in September  2006 on salary increases for the period 2005-2007. Phillip claimed at TAWU has proposed a salary increase of 89% for the workers that it represents on the port and refused to accept the Authority's proposal of 30% for certain selected job positions. The matter was referred to the Ministry of Labour for conciliation.

The GPA boss charged that since last September, TAWU had been concocting a number of issues in order to bring about  work stoppages on the port, as well as engaging in other forms  of industrial action.

Earlier in the month, the workers picketed the port to press their demands for settlement of outstanding issues. According to Phillip, the conciliation proceedings conducted by  Labour Commissioner, Cyrus Griffith, made no progress and the matter was referred to the Minister of Labour, Claris Charles, who recommended that both parties submit new proposals relating to wages and salaries.

Phillip said that the "new" proposal put forward by TAWU did not contain any material changes from its original positions. A meeting was requested by the minister with both parties on March 14 at which GPA's proposals reached 30% for certain selected job positions while the Union declared that it was "not horse-trading" on its demand for 89% over a three year period.

Phillip said that the Union's call for equal pay for equal work position is patently misleading since the working conditions of dock labour vary significantly from that of TAWU represented staff on the St. George's Port. He pointed out that it is not true to say that they all work under the same conditions.

On Tuesday, Humphrey expressed serious concern with the frequency with which GPA take away money from the salaries of striking workers and deemed the action as unlawful and without  justifiable reason. Referring to the several Port workers whose pay was docked for the two day they reported sick (May 7-8), Humphrey gave the Port Authority a deadline of 3.00 pm on Tuesday to make immediate payment or face the necessary consequences.

The deadline was not met and the TAWU boss told our News Desk that "the struggle would be intensified". TAWU has often resorted to "solidarity strikes" in order to force employers to settle their impasse.

Sen. Humphrey is considered the most powerful trade union figure on the island since his union represents the work force in key areas like the airport, electricity, sea port, and telecommunications industry.