Attorney General (AG) Steadroy ‘Cutie’ Benjamin along with the Labour Department may face a lawsuit, by Antigua & Barbuda Free Trade Union (ABFTU), after canceling an election among Port Authority workers to decide on their union of choice.
According to ABFTU president Samuel James, the body has already contacted its lawyer after placing the Labour Department and AG on notice via a news broadcast yesterday morning.
“If by the end of today [Monday], we don’t hear any official correspondence reinstating the balloting, then we will have no further recourse but to contact our lawyers to deal with this matter at the High Court.” James shared.
The ABFTU president defends that an election was in order because in 2018 port authority workers filed a petition to decertify the AT&LU in favour of having the Free Trade Union become their sole bargaining agent.
And, according to him, that election would have taken place had it not apparently been cancelled by the Labour Department under the advice of the AG.
“We’re just tired of this system where the system pick and choose and protects its own to the detriment of other people – 2020 is here, we are not going to sit quiet anymore,” said James
However, Benjamin says the election was canceled because the court was dealing with a legal issue that must be resolved before an election can take place.
“I’ve been informed, and do verily believe, that an application was made for the court’s determination of a legal issue. And until that legal issue has been determined, nothing can move forward. That is the law of this land,” Benjamin explained.
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Why didnt the AG inform the relevant parties as to the reason for the cancellation? It’s a miracle what proper communication can do.
Sigh
I expect better of ELTONIA
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