Dear Editor,
Businessess exist to maximise profits. Therefore, in order to achieve greater levels of efficiency, private enterprises will seek to retool and invest in cost-saving initiatives. However, Jamaicans do not seem to understand this concept because of their welfare mentality.
Nothing is wrong with defending the rights of workers, but unions should understand that employers have the right to sack workers who are not efficient; and when these employees are defended, the wrong message is sent to investors. Some years ago, an employee was fired for sleeping on the job. Instead of berating the employee, his colleagues decided to strike. An asinine action like this would not have been tolerated in a productive country.
The PanCaribbean Sugar Company's aim is to make profits and not to lose important equipment. If the security guards who were entrusted to protect these euipment were derelict in their duties, then there must be consequences. Furthermore, it is not financially prudent for the company to maintain these workers and pay interim personnel. The company must be allowed to do its restructuring.
Jamaica Private Power Company also wants to restructure its operations, but unions don't seem to understand this. The management of the firm provided union leaders with an opportunity to recommend suitable cost-saving alternatives, and the unions did not respond. We cannot expect the company to continue with its inefficient operations; it is not a charity.
Though we live in the 21st century, unions are still anachronistic. For example, for many, being a security guard is not a permanent job, it is something people do until a better job comes along. Even though the law recognises security guards as employees and not contractors, private firms do not share this view, and based on the nature of the industry we cannot blame them. If security guards were to receive special benefits like permanent workers, then massive lay-offs would become a possibility, because such a decision is not financially feasible.
Research conducted by Gallup has shown that workers are more productive when they feel respected. It is respect and not a raft of benefits which makes workers productive. In addition, trade unions do not understand the free market, but it is unlikely that anything will be done to curb their power since both parties are affiliated to unions.
Populism will trump economics again, and in the short term the people will feel better, but in the long term Jamaica will be poorer. Jamaica needs a leader, like Margaret Thatcher, who is not afraid to tackle unions or other populist elements in the society. It is also quite ironic that the people who will reject conservative leaders will later bash politicians for promoting populism and the poor for being lazy. Jamaicans should make up their minds, they can accept capitalism and be prosperous or they can continue to admire utopic socialism and achieve failure.
Lipton Matthews
lo_matthews@yahoo.com
Mind your manners, unions
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Businessess exist to maximise profits. Therefore, in order to achieve greater levels of efficiency, private enterprises will seek to retool and invest in cost-saving initiatives. However, Jamaicans do not seem to understand this concept because of their welfare mentality.
Nothing is wrong with defending the rights of workers, but unions should understand that employers have the right to sack workers who are not efficient; and when these employees are defended, the wrong message is sent to investors. Some years ago, an employee was fired for sleeping on the job. Instead of berating the employee, his colleagues decided to strike. An asinine action like this would not have been tolerated in a productive country.
The PanCaribbean Sugar Company's aim is to make profits and not to lose important equipment. If the security guards who were entrusted to protect these euipment were derelict in their duties, then there must be consequences. Furthermore, it is not financially prudent for the company to maintain these workers and pay interim personnel. The company must be allowed to do its restructuring.
Jamaica Private Power Company also wants to restructure its operations, but unions don't seem to understand this. The management of the firm provided union leaders with an opportunity to recommend suitable cost-saving alternatives, and the unions did not respond. We cannot expect the company to continue with its inefficient operations; it is not a charity.
Though we live in the 21st century, unions are still anachronistic. For example, for many, being a security guard is not a permanent job, it is something people do until a better job comes along. Even though the law recognises security guards as employees and not contractors, private firms do not share this view, and based on the nature of the industry we cannot blame them. If security guards were to receive special benefits like permanent workers, then massive lay-offs would become a possibility, because such a decision is not financially feasible.
Research conducted by Gallup has shown that workers are more productive when they feel respected. It is respect and not a raft of benefits which makes workers productive. In addition, trade unions do not understand the free market, but it is unlikely that anything will be done to curb their power since both parties are affiliated to unions.
Populism will trump economics again, and in the short term the people will feel better, but in the long term Jamaica will be poorer. Jamaica needs a leader, like Margaret Thatcher, who is not afraid to tackle unions or other populist elements in the society. It is also quite ironic that the people who will reject conservative leaders will later bash politicians for promoting populism and the poor for being lazy. Jamaicans should make up their minds, they can accept capitalism and be prosperous or they can continue to admire utopic socialism and achieve failure.
Lipton Matthews
lo_matthews@yahoo.com
Mind your manners, unions
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