By Vina Frederick

Despite warnings from education minister Mario Michel, several teachers yesterday joined the protest march by the St Lucia Trade Union Federation to demonstrate against the recent firing of Sandals Resorts workers.

Dozens of workers—with placards bearing slogans such as, ‘Are you unionized? Beware the Sandals bug is in the air,’—took to the streets to march in solidarity with over 100 fired workers. The march, led by the dismissed workers, started at the St Lucia Civil Service Association’s grounds and moved on to the John Compton Highway, Jeremie Street Bridge Street, Brazil Street. It ended on Jn Baptiste Street, where the gathering held their rally. The theme song for the protest was Herb Black’s One Day’s Work.

David Demacque, general secretary of the union said his role is a very simple one because “the reasons for the march are written all over the placards.” “We believe in the trade unions and in the trade union federation. The day the first 25 workers were fired it brought a grey cloud over the workers and a grey cloud over trade unionism in St Lucia,” said Demacque who went on to add that the day 87 workers were fired it brought further “dark clouds of despair because it was an attack on their livelihood.

 “It was an attack on your bellies. It was an attack on the schooling of your children and it was an attack on your freedom to unionize. This march is a fight; a demonstration; a show of force against employers such as Sandals to prevent workers of St Lucia from unionization,” Demacque went on. “Freedom of association is a right that is enshrined in the Constitution of St Lucia. It is the highest law of the land. Is Sandals telling us that it is above the law? No one in St Lucia is above the law.

 “We will march and march until Sandals realizes  workers should be unionized. The march today is only a small step in the war against non-unionization.”Randy Davis Barnard, a relative of Kenny Anthony, was the next speaker. He urged the workers, especially those presently employed with Sandals, to get unionized. He said that they should not be afraid because the Labour Code has been passed and it is there to protect them.

 “Tomorrow could be your turn,” said Barnard. “We have to unite and stand up with each other. Too many times we have problems in our work places and we refuse to stand up for our rights. We say nothing.”Julian Monrose, president of the St Lucia Teacher’s Union, told the workers they are in control and under the trade union federation they call the shots.