Other trade unions need to come to the forefront – PSU head

President of the Public Service Union (PSU) Cools Vanloo would like to see the other trade unions become more involved in pressuring the government to pay public sector workers the relevant salary increases.{{more}}

“The PSU is not alone, all the other unions represent varying categories; we have been making demands, but I am not sure what has been going on with them,” Vanloo told SEARCHLIGHT in an interview on Wednesday.

He said when the PSU made a decision to call for industrial action, it appeared that they took that decision alone, and while all the public sector workers are facing the same challenge, the others have not come out, Vanloo said.

The union president singled out the National Labour Congress, saying that he believes that organisation should be at the forefront of the process.

“That is one of the objectives of the Congress to provide solidarity and support for the unions on different issues,” he said.

But these organisations have been very silent, the PSU top man contended.

So, while the PSU is out there representing its own membership, that of the other unions was not calling on their leadership to deal with the issues or to give support to the PSU.

He said that he has heard the opposite, with other heads being unsupportive of the PSU.

“The 1.5 per cent that was paid and the pursuance of it, I believe that if it wasn’t for the PSU, that none of it would have been paid.

“…they are opportunistic in their behaviour, because they do not want to pursue the call, but if someone else is successful, then they will benefit, but they do not want to do anything,” Vanloo said.

He also made a call for the other trade unions to sit down and take a look at what was taking place and to come up with an appropriate response.

That was the position needed to be taken, he said, in order that they pursue the interest of their respective memberships.

“But the other unions would have to come up with their own position,” Vanloo said. (DD)