Orville W. TaylorTOMORROW IS Labour Day. For those of us who lived through the stupid '70s and the idiotic '80s it is a relief to talk about 'Labour' without some fanatic with a gun warning that if we work on that day we are 'Labourites' because 'Socialis' do their projects on the 24th. For me, either day was onerous since it was just one or two days before pay-day and I was down to 'bulla and wate'. (Actually it's still the same).
We started taking the day seriously in the 1970s but Labour Day is claimed to have originated in the U.S.A. out of the 1882 celebrations of the early trade union movement, the Knights of Labour, founded in 1869. However, Canadians suggest that it began with their own national marches in the 1870s.
These North American nations are the only ones who celebrate it in September instead of May. Nonetheless, Australians allege an 1856 genesis with their demonstrations leading to the first eight-hour working day. Then the British trace it back to their May Day celebrations, which themselves originate with the Ancient Romans. Isn't it interesting that this itself could become a dispute?
Our own Labour Day started as Empire Day, the birthday of Queen Victoria, who, like America's Abraham Lincoln, is falsely credited with freeing the slaves out of goodwill. On the initiative of then Premier Norman Manley, the commemoration shifted to May 23 in 1961 and became renamed Labour Day.
ALL NOT QUIET ON
THE LABOUR FRONT
Today, all is not quiet on the labour front. The police are "down in arms" with the Government over their claim for a 47 per cent increase. In furtherance of their industrial dispute, the Jamaica Police Federation (JPF) has sanctioned a 'sick-out', which in the circumstances is unlawful industrial action under the Labour Relations and Industrial Disputes Act (LRIDA).
I am curious to see how it handles the industrial action because this same government punished the junior doctors, medical technologists and the correctional officers. Yet, when in opposition, it was on the side of the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) and Fire Brigade officers when the Seaga-led JLP dismissed them in 1985 for taking unlawful industrial action. "Anywhere puss move macca juck him."
Despite the industrial action, I rather doubt that the government can afford, either on economic or political grounds, to meet the JPF's demands. 'Misunderstanding of Uncertainty' (MOU), the Government would be hard-pressed to accede to the police since there are many 'hungry' nurses, firemen, doctors, teachers and others who are "ready fi bruk fight".
Why hasn't the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) commented? It has kept quiet like 'Tweety Bird' hiding from the puss. Anyway, I believe that inasmuch as the police are in dire straits and under severe stress, they will not be able to get their well-deserved 47 per cent increase. Thus, their protest is likely to be fruitless.
Speaking of pointless protests, what does the May Pen Chamber of Commerce and the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) hope to achieve by their half-day "work stoppage?" Their dispute is with the criminals, not the inconvenienced public. I bet the gunmen are not in the least affected and are probably waiting for stores to open again to re-start their criminal acts.
TRYING TIMES
While it is important to improve, pay and equip the police, I can 'Hardley' disagree with the Jamaica Defence Force's Chief of Staff, who suggests that we need to reduce production in the 'factories' which breed criminals faster than a bank repossesses your house or car.
In these trying times, the need for sustainable economic growth is paramount. I notice that recently, the Observer's 'Business Leader of the Year' was security mogul Kenny Benjamin. Good for him but I have very distinct views as to the kind of economic activity we should reward during this critical period of our economic history. The bias must be towards export or foreign ex-change earning ventures.
Private security businesses boom because of the persistence of a particular social problem crime, and crime has a factory. The greater concern should not be about Benjamin's business savvy. We should be horrified that there is so much demand for private security. After all, I know that we are closely related to chimpanzees but I hate living in a cage.
Since we are in the 'earn-from- social-problems' mode, maybe we can highlight my undertaker relative who should be getting a boost from the increasing homicides and mop up what the police and private security fail to prevent. Asked recently 'How is business?' He replied, "Business 'dead,' but I am digging in, buried under work and loving it."
In true controversial form, banker Bill Clarke has once again spoken about our 'failed state.' Yet, it was recently revealed that of all loans made by commercial banks only three per cent went to manufacturing. That is why the profit-making commercial and investment bankers need to refrain from speaking when the debates regarding crimes are taking place unless they fund exports and reduce their interest rates. Of course, I am also strong on the issue of job preservation and worker protection.
'HILL-CONCEIVED' ARGUMENT
A former banker came up with a "Hill-conceived" argument that the redundancy legislation initiated by the JLP in 1971 (not PNP) must be scrapped. Maybe he has lived out of the country too long but he needs to know that the increase in reported breaches of the statute correlates strongly to the increase in violent crimes.
Vex if you want but I have no other country to run to when these boys explode. Remember, no amount of personal wealth and security is sufficient to protect us if we don't fix the social ills.
Dr. Orville Taylor is lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Psychology and Social Work at the University of the West Indies, Mona.
