Expats are scared of joining unions - Talk show hosts
They were speaking on the Speak Your Mind television talk show aired on Saturday evening May 7, 2016 on JTV Channel 55.
“Unfortunately we don’t have strong unions and strong persons who look out for the interest of workers, as in some other countries. Because if we had strong unions they would look after such individuals,” de Castro said.
He noted that one reason for the reluctance could be the fear of being "put on a plane" and sent home.
“I guess it is because of the large [number] of work permit holders, they are fearful of the repercussions,” de Castro continued.
George added that such a fear is well founded, as they may think if they sign up with a union or any other sort of representative body the authorities may take their work permit and send them home.
“And these people came here to make a better living for themselves. I don’t like that...holding that fear over somebody’s head,” George said.
De Castro is of the opinion that the phenomenon could break eventually as one can only mistreat workers for so long.
“After a while it is going to change and there is going to be a revolution I think,” he said.
Unions deemed necessary
For years, another commentator Donald E. de Castro has been advocating for labour unions as a way of keeping employers in check with regard to the way employees are treated.
The issue of trade unions again came to light when de Castro made some scathing comments in response to a statement by Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr The Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering while speaking at an event last year March. Hon Pickering had said he was happy there were no labour unions in the Virgin Islands to represent the interest of the labour force and that this was a "blessing" for the territory.
De Castro called the Minister’s statement disgraceful, shameful, unacceptable and a complete insult to the intelligence of the workers of this territory. He said there are so many people in the labour force and there are so many issues and that the Labour Department cannot deal with them.
The talk show host further said unions are not just about strikes and work stoppages and noted that in the early years when unions were formed, they were a big help to the working man and they made a lot of progress, improving the conditions in the workforce in the workplace and creating benefits and bargaining units.
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