Donald E. de Castro renews call for Workers’ Union executive body
de Castro made the appeal earlier today February 5, 2014 at his Water Front Drive, Tortola Office in the presence of local reporters. He said that the Worker Union is not being as active and effective as it should because of a number of challenges including the non-existence of an executive body and the lack of togetherness among its membership.
He told reporters that while persons have been expressing the interest of being members of the Workers’ Union they are not coming to the forefront to be on the executive body, “Next year I will be 80 years old and I need to show people that this thing can work so I am not giving up,” he said.
Most of the interested persons according to Mr de Castro are persons who are holders of work permits and because of the fear of having their work permit not being renewed or revoked for some reason or the other, they are afraid to serve on ‘Front row’ positions of the Union. “If we come together as one, we can do things even a work permit hold is protected under the constitution of this country.”
Meeting as a body being one of the other challenges Mr de Castro said that he is hoping that as they celebrate 10 year on February 8, 2014, its membership would see it necessary to come together and for a meeting.
He said that had there been a vibrant Workers’ Union in the VI workers’ interests would have been better represented and justice would have been served in many instances.
While there is no special activity set to mark the milestone of the VIWU the Acting President is hoping that they would at least come together as a body and get an executive body installed.
11 Responses to “Donald E. de Castro renews call for Workers’ Union executive body”
A Trade Union is a continuing independent organization, created voluntarily and controlled democratically by workers, to protect and promote their interests first in their place of work, but also in society at large.
The Union is open to all workers in the Virgin Islands including those with work permits and all Government employees.
Remember that any group of people that unite, regardless of its name is a union of people seeking to accomplish a common goal.
Unfortunately, the writer of the above article did not include the most important issues discussed at the press conference.