Press Releases

05/08/2008

Chamber opposes Union call for recognition

Union membership is an individual choice Union seeks return to the "golden days" of trade unionism

The litany of demands contained in the annual May Day message of the TGWU has become as predictable as rain on a bank holiday. This year however, the message from the Union has thrown caution to the wind as it casts around to cause even greater mischief than usual.

Sadly, nothing in the Union’s message said anything about improving productivity or clamping down on excessive abuse of sick leave. These are the very issues that are cramping the competitiveness of companies in Gibraltar. Instead, the Union’s plea was for more handouts in the form of shorter working hours and higher pay.

Some of the demands of the Union are a throwback to 1970s working practices. Specifically, the Union’s call for employer recognition. There is no need to have union recognition by employers. Indeed, it would be a very bad indication of the state of worker relations in Gibraltar if the Government felt it had to legislate for this. Gibraltar is no modern-day Tolpuddle and Mr Sisarello is no modern-day martyr.

Earlier this year the Chamber told the Union that if it can show that an employer is being unreasonable towards its employees then the Chamber would work with the Union to resolve such an issue, whether the employer is a member of the Chamber or not. The Chamber believes that the overwhelming majority of companies in Gibraltar are good employers who treat their staff fairly and equitably. Employers across all sectors, in the main, offer good pay and conditions and increasingly, good career prospects. In a tight labour market with full employment it is in employers’ interests to treat their staff well.

Earlier this year the Union also agreed, on the record, with the pay recommendations made by the Chamber to its members. The Union’s May Day message appears to have overlooked this fact.

If employees want a union to represent them that is their individual choice, as highlighted recently by Gibraltar’s firemen. It should not be forced upon them or upon their employers through legislation.

One sure-fire way to halt investment into Gibraltar would be to give greater powers to trade unions. If this were the case, employers in many of the Rock’s business sectors would in all probability re-establish their business elsewhere, away from such unnecessary encumbrances. The implications for job losses and economic growth would then be plain for all to see.

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