Friday, December 23, 2011 7:43 AM- St. George's, Grenada
St. George's Grenada 22 December, 2011_Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, this morning, met with the Executive of the Grenada Trades Union Council to discuss the industrial relations climate in Grenada.
The meeting was held against the backdrop of the industrial action taken by the Technical and Allied Workers Union (GTAWU), at the Grenada Breweries.
The Prime Minister, in welcoming the seven member delegation to the meeting, said he appreciated the opportunity to interact with the TUC and he called for a collaborative approach to confronting the difficult economic environment facing the country, especially at this time.
The meeting agreed that a speedy resolution to the industrial impasse at the Grenada Breweries was in "the best interest of everyone", since the Grenada economy was unable to withstand the effects of prolonged industrial action.
The Prime Minister described as "totally false" and "dishonest", claims that he had ordered the Special Services Unit (SSU) to disrupt the workers actions at the GBL and assured the TUC that his government had taken every step to bring stakeholders back to the negotiating table.
"I have no interest in using force against workers. Any claims in this regard are dishonest and false," the Grenadian leader told the TUC Executive.
The Prime Minister urged the TUC to be mindful of the impact of industrial action on the welfare of the state and on "innocent citizens who are not involved in any conflict with anyone." He alerted the TUC that he had engaged the union and the GBL to resolve the impasse and expected "the workers to return to work later today."
