Dominica: Employees of J. Astaphan & Co votes to establish National Service Workers Union

Employees of J. Astaphan & Co. (1970) Ltd. at Roseau, Fond Cole and Canefield voted to establish and join the National Service Workers Union (NASWU) on Thursday. This is a historical groundbreaking move for organized labour and Collective Bargaining in Dominica and a surprise for the Giant Company that has fought unionization efforts over the years.The Union is led by Oksana Toulon as General Secretary, a young, quietly unassuming but very conscious attendant at the Cosmetic Department of the Company's main establishment in Roseau. She is ably assisted by a competent group of young workers, with young women taking the lead.She stated that activism at the Company intensified when a memorandum was circulated to all Staff at all Locations mandating COVID-19 antigen testing for all unvaccinated employees at a cost which would be detrimental to the take-home wages concerned. "Apart from that, we have several other grievances that are not being addressed adequately." She made the following points: 

• The absence of Collective Bargaining
• Meager Wages
• Issues of Occupational Health and Safety
• Workers retirement Security
• Summary dismissals

After informing Management of the establishment of the NASWU, we have written to Company requesting a Moratorium on the COVID-19 Antigen Testing Policy to afford the Union the courtesy of a discussion on the matter."We hope to establish a professional, cordial and respectful relations with our employer and pledge to be exemplary, disciplined and dignified workers towards our employer as well as towards the public (customers) that we serve daily," Oksana Toulon.She stated that National Service Workers Union (NASWU) stands in Solidarity with All Workers in Dominica, The Caribbean and the World.