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Tourism Minister Dr. Ewart Brown gave a speech last week to the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU). His message was essentially that trade unions can boost Tourism, and the benefit they derive from such a boost, by elevating their standards of conduct and methods of confronting issues. The message was a good one.

I don’t know if Dr. Brown saw himself as wielding a double-edged sword, but it appears to me that his message could be applied as well to his Cabinet and party colleagues in the political arena as to trade unionists and the workplace.

The Progressive Labour Party (PLP) grew out of the labour movement and there are parallels obvious to me between the evolution being called for in labour’s approach to trade unionism and moves the PLP could make in its approach to governance.

Minister Brown indirectly called for elevated standards from trade union members and leaders in his speech. His words were: “Trade unionism in tourism does its members a disservice when it supports unacceptable behaviour. Trade unionism in tourism discourages fair managers when they side with an employee deserving of disciplinary action against the management. Trade unionism in tourism is not a genuine partner when it perpetuates a culture that embraces second best as the norm.”

I think he is calling for a Code of Conduct for trade unionists that would set out the expected standards of behaviour and provide a benchmark to which members could aspire and against which conduct could be measured. It’s clear that the players and positions aren’t the same in politics as in trade unionism, however, the public is expressing a desire for elevated standards from the political parties and their leaders. So let’s also have a Code of Conduct for leaders of parties and governments to set the bar for our expectations of political behaviour.

Dr. Brown touched on the difference between service and servitude — that while we abhor the image of the latter, we must dedicate ourselves to the former. This is an important message. We want not to drag our sense of service down by tainting it with servitude. We must go “the extra mile” he referred to out of pride, not oppression. In the sphere of governance, the extra mile admonition applies too, and it ought to be in service more so than in image.

In his calls for innovation and partnership, Minister Brown is pushing for an evolution in the style and content of trade union demands. He wants the union to move further on the path from the confrontation of marches and disruptive work-time meetings to support and collaboration. That’s another worthwhile message, and one that would resonate in the political arena.

With his familial links to the BIU, Minister Brown may have been the ideal messenger. He could say things that needed to be said in ways likely to be heard.

As Deputy Premier, I sincerely hope he will be the ideal conveyor of a parallel message to his party and Cabinet colleagues. Bermuda needs first class service from its leaders in order for it to stay competitive. Innovation is necessary to make better use of the skills and talents of all elected and appointed leaders. There must be consultation beyond special interest groups.

Minister Brown has recognized the need for trade union introspection and reform. For this he deserves credit. Perhaps his ultimate challenge is to have his labour party lead the way and set an inspirational example that labour unions can follow.[[In-content Ad]]

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