Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Clive Dobson, who recently pulled out of the NWU presidency race. - Andrew Smith/Photography Editor

THIS weekend when Clive Dobson addresses the National Workers Union's (NWU) annual conference it will be his final as president and the most important since he was elected to lead it 15 years ago.

Mr. Dobson, 71, told The Gleaner that he decided to retire this year mainly due to health reasons. On Saturday, the NWU's over 900 delegates will gather at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston, to elect either Vincent Morrison or Danny Roberts as the NWU's new president.

Mr. Morrison and Mr. Roberts are NWU vice-presidents.

In August, both men declared that they would challenge the incumbent for the post, which surprised Mr. Dobson. He said they had given him their word that they would not make such a move until he announced his retirement.

Come Saturday, Mr. Dobson said he will attempt to ease tension among his senior members. The NWU, he said, is at a crossroads.

Transition period

"The union is in a position of transition which, if not handled properly could close into a whirlwind," Mr. Dobson told The Gleaner. "But I am going to make sure that before I leave all of that will change, because I am going to speak to what are the qualities I think the person who replaces me should have."

The NWU president's race has overshadowed the conference's theme which will be the state of Jamaica's health sector and improved schemes for workers.

At the launch of the conference two weeks ago, general secretary Lloyd Goodleigh admonished the media for overplaying the alleged differences between Mr. Dobson and his vice-presidents.

But Mr. Dobson, who joined the NWU in 1956, insists personality conflicts have threatened to derail the organisation which, along with the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU), are Jamaica's oldest unions.

"There has been a decline in the last couple of years because of cliques and indiscipline. I wouldn't say they (cliques) are still there but there's still some work to do," he said.

Mr. Dobson succeeded Derrick Rochester as NWU president in 1991 and has led unopposed since. He has held a post once occupied by Noel 'Crab' Nethersole, Michael Manley and Carlyle Dunkley, all prominent members of the People's National Party.

The son of devout Christians, Mr. Dobson was born in the Central Kingston community of Allman Town and was eyeing a career in politics when he joined the NWU 50 years ago.

Mentor

That all changed after he found a mentor in the charismatic Manley who returned from England in the late 1950s to assume a senior post with the NWU.

Through Manley, the young Dobson got a scholarship to Cornel University in New York. After four years at the Ivy League college, he graduated but instead of returning to Jamaica, he worked in the tri-state area's competitive labour scene.

Back home for his mother's funeral in 1975, he was encouraged by Manley, who was then Prime Minister, to stay and play a senior role in the NWU.

The union, Mr. Dobson recalled, had lost ground to its longtime rival, the BITU.

Significant strides

Mr. Dobson says the NWU has made significant strides under his stewardship, especially in its representation of workers in the tourism, bauxite/alumina and telecommunications sectors.

He is adamant that his years of late-night bargaining will not go down the drain. He has accepted the administrators offer to become the NWU's first president emeritus, and will play a part in restoring stability among senior members.

The NWU's conference, its 28th, is scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m.