Matura-Shepherd Says G.O.B. Attacking the Union

Audrey Matura-Shepherd

According to Matura-Shepherd, it seems as if the government is attacking the union. Matura-Shepherd says that there has been little to no communication between the CWU and the S.S.B.; and that they learnt of the S.S.B. decision through the media. But Matura-Shepherd says she is deeply concerned about a statement made by Chairman of the Social Security Board, Doug Singh, threatening to take the S.S.B. Act to parliament.

Audrey Matura-Shepherd, President, CWU
“It was also amazing to see the interview given by the chairman, Mister Doug Singh, who made it clear that one of the directors—and he was quick to qualify that it was not one of the government directors—said that they should consider going to the national assembly and changing the law. Could you imagine what has been happening in this country?  When you couldn’t get the cane farmers to cave in, they went in and changed the law. When you couldn’t get the Bar Association to cave in, they went and changed the law. When you couldn’t fight B.E.L./B.T.L. issues one on one contractually, they went and changed the law. It is a dangerous trend. It would therefore mean if it is so much that CWU you want to get out; it would mean that many laws you will change because every time CWU steps in, you have a problem. You will change the law. It is a horrible trend and I hope people see in this country what is happening. You should not go and abuse the power you have in parliament. Yes you can change any law you want, but it is not the first option; it should be your last option. When your people in power are prepared to tell you that if I don’t have it my way, I will change the law that’s not fair play because you on the other end don’t have the power to change the law…only they do. So it is not a leveled playing field.”

According to Matura-Shepherd between 1999 and 2003, former CWU President, Antonio Gonzalez, once sat on the S.S.B. as a union representative.