The Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) is questioning what they call “a unilateral position” to extend the contract of Industrial Court Judge and Chairman of the Essential Services Division, Lawrence Achong.
Members of the trade union hosted a Press Conference opposite the President’s House on Monday, calling on President Christine Kangaloo to intervene.
JTUM President General Ancel Roget said politics continues to be at play.
“We are not prepared to rest until justice is served, and we see justice being served by Larry Achong being removed and sent home.”
The trade union leader claimed that for many years, trade unions have been bullied by Justice Achong when matters were presented before him, noting further evidence of judgments made against the nature of his rulings at the Privy Council level.
He gave several examples of various trade unions individually calling for Justice Achong’s removal over the years, noting that if confidence is to be restored in the court, the perception of bias must be addressed.
“The only way we see forward is the non-renewal of contract or the non-extension of any contract for him.”
President of the Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union (SWWTU), Michael Annisette, agreed on a decision.
“We not going in front of Larry Achong. We cannot sit down here and make a statement and then go and sit down in front of Achong. We have to take a decision as the labour movement, and we have to stand up strong that Larry Achong, we are not prepared to sit in front of him under any circumstances. Nobody must force you against your will, given the history of the man.”
Drawing reference between the non-renewal of the contract of former President of the Industrial Court Deborah Thomas-Felix and the extension of Mr. Achong’s contract for an additional five-year period, Mr. Roget said there was an apparent discrepancy.
He said the decision by the new Cabinet to rescind the former government’s Cabinet Note advising President Kangaloo to extend the contracts of five Industrial Court judges was justified.
“In the interest of those who are making the complaint incessantly for quite a while—that’s the trade union movement—to rescind that, for the President to take it unilaterally and to extend that contract, one would have expected some sort of consultation to take place. As we speak, we are not aware that such consultation would have taken place, so it’s a unilateral position, and that also speaks to bias in the minds of us as to where, which side of the scale, she weighs in the balance.”
Mr. Roget said if Justice Achong is not removed, this will weaken the integrity of the Industrial Court, a court seen as unbiased and apolitical.
“We want to prevail upon the President the consequences of her actions by extending by six months or even one day the tenure of Larry Achong at the benches of the Industrial Court, and for justifiable reasons that we have put forward.”
In the last few years, trade unions have expressed their dissatisfaction with the rulings of Justice Achong and have consistently called for his removal. Justice Lawrence Achong also serves as the Chairman of the Special Tribunal of the Industrial Court.