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Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 07, 2019 (SKNIS): The Ministry of Labour observed a minute of silence to remember the contribution to the workforce by the late Joseph O’Flaherty, President of the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union, who passed away on Monday, May 06.

During the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Awards Ceremony on May 07, Senior Minister and Minister of Labour, the Honourable Vance Amory, expressed sadness over his passing.

“There is a tinge of sadness because we have lost one our very solid supporters of the development of St. Kitts and Nevis in respect of labour conditions and the environment,” said Minister Amory. “When I heard yesterday, it really was a bit of shock to me. I thank the deputy labour commissioner [Deon Webb] for asking us to observe a minute of silence in respect of his passing but also because of the work he has done.”

Mr. O’Flaherty became the President of the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union in October 2012.

Information collected from his LinkedIn account stated that he served as Chairman of the National Executive Board of labour comrades, where he was tasked with setting organizational policies which govern all industrial and business operations in St. Kitts and Nevis. He implemented committee reviews on workplace issues comprising of negotiations of collective bargaining agreement with employers and arbitration of employee workplace grievances. 

Mr. O’Flaherty also organized training for trade union members on Occupational Safety & Health, Retirement Pension Planning, Workplace Human Resource and Decent Work issues.

He developed programmes which provided labour market information to the general workers, as well as developed programmes which provided workplace advocacy and education. Additionally, he undertook a high visibility role as the spokesman of the trade union engaging with members of the press and media in an effort to market the Decent Work Agenda of the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades & Labour Union. 

The St Kitts – Nevis Trades and Labour Union was founded in 1932 as the St. Kitts Workers’ League. It was renamed to its current name in 1940.