NEXT Wednesday’s Biennial Convention of the Civil Service Association has been touted as the most important one ever to be held by the Association.
Giving it that distinction is the continuous pressure exerted on the current executive by a faction within its membership called the Save Our Union Team (SOUT) which has been clamouring for the dissolution of the executive on grounds that it was constructed against the articles of the Association’s Constitution, abuse of authority among other things.
Even as members of the Association look forward to attending the convention, one aspiring woman, Yvonne Edwin, has decided to more than attend the proceedings. She has thrown her hat in the ring and presented herself as a candidate for president.
She is preaching change and transparent leadership if elected. Edwin told THE VOICE:
“A lot of things prompted me to run for president of the CSA. When I entered the CSA there was unity; today there is a breakdown of that unity. Over the past two years the disunity has reached an alarming stage. It appeared that the union was under a dictatorship style of governance. There were persons in there who believed that the union belonged to them. The bread and butter issues that a union is supposed to look into on behalf of members are not being addressed.”
The 37 year old who is currently employed at the Department of Fisheries said that partisan politics had destroyed the union to the extent that issues that matter for the development of members were being forsaken by the executive.
She points to negotiations for a new collective agreement 2016/2019 not being started as yet and the old one yet to be signed.
“The union is there to represent workers, not to represent yellow or red. Politics of that nature need not be part of the union. Let us see about improving the salaries of members and their work conditions. That is what a union is there for,” Edwin said.
Over the past two or three years the CSA has been torn apart with in-fighting as members of the SOUT pitted themselves against the executive fighting tooth and nail on almost everything pertaining to the union.
The in-fighting’s beginning could be traced during the latter days of Mary Isaac’s presidency in which she inked a deal with the opposition United Workers Party to join its ranks, at the same time denying she had done so when the story leaked.
She was appointed a senator by the party and today is its endorsed candidate for the Castries South constituency.
Here is Edwin’s story of her involvement in the CSA:
“I became a member of the St. Lucia Civil Service Association after joining the Public Service in January 2001. Within the last 15 years, I have been actively involved in the union as a young vibrant worker, member and Shop Steward.
“In 2004, I was nominated as the Shop Steward for the Department of Fisheries as a result of my dedication, enthusiasm, outgoing and persistent nature for workers’ rights and trade unionism. I served as shop steward for my Department until 2008 before proceeding to pursue my studies. Though, pursuing my studies was a priority, after 2008 I continued to serve as the alternate and contact person for my Department in the absence of the elected Shop Steward.
“My determination and commitment to the CSA provided many opportunities for selection to attend and represent the union in various capacities including: Caribbean Public Service Association Conference, Belize (June 2006); Caribbean Public Service Association Conference, Grenada (June 2009); Caribbean Public Service Association Conference, Guyana (July 2010); Leadership workshop, hosted by CSA (November 2013) and Young Leaders Forum, Bahamas (March 2014).
“During my tenure as shop steward I actively participated in the General Council and maintained a cordial relationship with the CSA Secretariat, Committee representatives and all past executive members.
“Apart from CSA representation, I have served in other leadership capacities including: Area Director – Toastmaster International, District 81, Area 17 (currently); Commissioner – CSA National Elections Commission 2014; President – Public Service Toastmaster Club (2013-2014) and Vice President – Public Service Toastmaster Club (2012-2013).
MyLikesList about your candidacy:
-You do not have WWITCH appeal in your looks or resume.
– Your hair leans to a potential nod for afrocentric “roots”
– You are transparent with transcendental potential.
-You radiate both large group and dyadic professional ambiance
-You inherited and radiate the allure and pride of the essence in our national slogan “SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL”
– I can invite you home to Mother’s whole family Thanksgiving dinner and promote friendship with my politically astute sisters who set a very high bar of standards for professional and national services.
– I am optimistic that you represent the renaissance of unionism that retains sociological and economic progressiveness leadership that is anchored in a new nation building altruism which transcends even bipartisan politics.
The Civil service of our fledgling nation can be that disciplined national defense that spearheads and galvanizes all citizens to be proactive in the positive upwards & forward consistency within national daily living.
Civil service that is as dedicated as a professional national military force with the best interests of the the land the people and excelsior of all citizens as their vision statement.
– I respect your last name.. Every person I have known with this last name- especially a teacher at St Mary.s college- are poised with high intellect and marvelous INTERPERSONAL communication abilities.
I wish you the best and until profound verifiable negative intel sullies your profile-
I am confident that you are the one to close the recent dismal veil of gloom and foreboding prolonged by Mary Issac and her cohorts –
to usher the fair play and new horizons of unionism as a construct of Nationalism.
You can depend on my support in said endeavors.