With the political temperature climbing to oppressive proportions, Mr Duke further escalated the heat scale by shutting down the Immigration Division offices around a time where families often take vacations out of the country. The ensuing cries of discomfort by the citizenry was not met with reasonable dialogue, but with legal action.
If the Minister of Labour had any concern for us, the people, he would have drawn on his own experiences and influences as a trade union leader to bring the impasse to a speedy resolution that all could sleep well with. What I think he did, however, was to show us that his contempt for the Public Services Association (PSA) president and his own ego, is more important than public well being.
To initiate the injunction was insanity. To follow through on the injunction is continuing said insanity. The labour minister did not approach this situation with his savvy and skill as a negotiator. Instead he opted to bring the hammer down hard where a tap of finesse was needed.
No doubt the trade union movement will look at Minister McLeod’s actions as a war signal. I do not know if this is the strategy of the Minister to initiate reform of the Industrial Relations Act. But when the bugle sounds and the troops assemble for battle, those who are left to pick up the pieces are usually those who don’t enjoy the spoils. When elephants play, the grass is trampled on.
Peter Garvey,
Wallerfield