Dominica: Employees of J. Astaphan & Co votes to establish National Service Workers Union
Employees of J. Astaphan & Co. at Roseau, Fond Cole and Canefield voted to establish and join the National Service Workers Union (NASWU).
Thursday, 12th May 2022

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
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