The Government of Grenada has been made aware of certain statements made by the Grenada Technical and Allied Workers’ Union (GTAWU) at a press conference held on Monday, 19 May 2025 regarding its application to the Division of Labour (DOL) for certification as the exclusive bargaining agent for the managerial employees of the Grenada Airports Authority (GAA).
The Division of Labour clarifies some of the matters addressed at the press conference.
By letter dated 2 May 2025, GTAWU made an application pursuant to Section 33 of the Labour Relations Act for certification as the bargaining agent for managers employed at the Airport. By law, a poll must take place within 14 days of receiving the application, but before that, the Labour Commissioner must conduct an exercise to consider the appropriateness of the bargaining unit in accordance with section 35 of the Labour Relations Act.
The Labour Commissioner was out of office on medical leave when the letter of 2 May was received and scheduled to return on 12 May 2025. Being cognisant of the 14-day requirement of the Act and the fact that she would have insufficient time from the date of her return to fulfil the legal requirements, the Division of Labour requested the union’s consent to extend the deadline for conducting the poll. The union declined the request.
By letter of 12 May 2025, the Labour Commissioner invited the Airports Authority and the union to a meeting at the DOL on Tuesday, 13 May 2025, to determine the appropriateness of the bargaining unit as required by Section 35 of the Act. The letter also informed the parties that once the appropriateness of the bargaining unit is determined, a poll will be conducted on Thursday, 15 May 2025, clearly establishing a precondition for the conduct of the poll as stipulated by the Act. The meeting was rescheduled and instead took place on Wednesday, 14 May 2025. The union and representatives from the Airports Authority attended.
At the meeting, the Labour Commissioner was unable to fully consider all the matters required by section 35 of the Act including: the community of interest among the employees in the proposed bargaining unit; the nature and scope of the duties exercised by the employees in the proposed bargaining unit; and the views of the employer and the trade unions concerned as to the appropriateness of the bargaining unit. The Airports Authority asked for more time to properly examine the roles of the managers within the proposed bargaining unit and to make submissions to inform her determinations. The request of the Airport Authority, not being unreasonable and being required to make the determinations stipulated by Section 35, the Labour Commissioner asked the parties to consider rescheduling the meeting for the following Thursday to give the Airport Authority the time requested to prepare its submissions. However, the union rejected the proposal and requested the Labour Commissioner to submit in writing a justification for extending the deadline.
Section 36 of the Act stipulates that after 14 days, the minister must either refuse to certify the union or conduct a poll. With the union’s stance in refusing to agree the extension and the 14-day deadline for conducting the poll, the minister was constrained to apply the provisions of Section 36(1) of the Act. Consequently, by letter dated 15 May 2025 from the Labour Commissioner addressed to both the General Manager of the GAA and the President General of the union, the parties were notified that the request for certificate was refused by the minister.
Pursuant to Section 36 (3), the union can submit a fresh application for certification after 90 days.
The Division of Labour remains committed to the interests of employees and employers alike as the neutral party in the tripartite arrangement. In the fulfilment of this commitment, the DOL is guided by the provisions of the Labour Code and the principles of fairness in the fulfilment of social justice.
Ministry of Legal Affairs, Labour and Consumer Affairs
