Tribunal orders changes to port worker system in Dominica

by Paul Charles

Thursday, February 19, 2004

ROSEAU, Dominica: A Dominican tribunal ruling, leaked to the media on Tuesday, ordered the Dominica Port Authority (DPA) to take immediate steps to abolish the present system of recruiting, deploying and paying port labour.

The judgment calls for an overhaul of the port worker system at the Woodbridge Bay Port in the capital, a source of the strained relations between the DPA and the Waterfront and Allied Workers Union (WAWU).

The tribunal has sided with the DPA which has been implementing streamlining measures at the island's main seaport amid protest action by the union which represents the long-shore and stevedore workers. 

Attorney General and Minister of Labour Henry Dyer set up the tribunal to settle the dispute between the port authority and the union last year.

WAWU President Kertist Augustus reacted to the outcome by saying his organisation is perplexed at the recommendation of the tribunal.

Augustus said he does not understand the meaning of revamping a system that has worked for decades without knowing what to replace it with.

Though more upbeat in response to the verdict, General Manager of the DPA Benoit Bardouille remained cautiously optimistic on the matter.

Like Augustus, Bardouille is awaiting legal advice from the port's lawyers before resuming what he termed cost saving measures, which brought about the dispute with the union. 

During last year's impasse, scores of union members blocked the two main entrances to the port grinding activities there to a halt. 

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