By G. Bennie Bravo Johnson
The Board of Directors of the Liberia National Tailors, Textiles, Garments, and Allied Workers Union (LNTTGAWU), popularly known as the “Tailor Union,” has threatened to drag the government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Labour, to Labour Court for allegedly violating its by-laws and constitution.
The Ministry of Labour recently released its investigative findings into the report of alleged misappropriation and corruption by the Tailor Union President, Mr. Edison Carlon, based on funds given to the Union by partners and other organizations and individuals.
The Ministry of Labour probed Mr. Carlon based on complaints he filed to the Ministry that he had been removed from his position for engaging in alleged corruption and misappropriation of funds.
In the report, the Ministry said that Mr. Carlon submitted relevant documents to the Ministry, and it was established that at no time he was involved in any financial corruption or misappropriation.
“You are hereby mandated to reinstate Mr. Edison Carlon as President of the Tailor Union and return the organization to status quo ante. We have concluded our investigation into the alleged act of corruption and misappropriation of entrusted property, and we found him not guilty of all the alleged crimes,” the report concluded.
But the Board, in response, said that the report was conducted without the acknowledgment of either the Executive Committee or the Board of Directors of the Tailor Union.
The board termed the report false and misleading and intended to undermine the authority of the Board of Directors as enshrined in the Bylaws and Construction of the Tailor Union, Article 17.
According to the Board of Directors, the mandate by the Ministry of Labour through the office of the Deputy Minister for Manpower Planning and Human Resources Development to reinstate their suspended President, Mr. Edison Carlon, is a complete breach and interference with their constitution.
Addressing a major press conference over the weekend, the Secretary General of the Tailor Union Board of Directors, Mr. Mohammed S. B. Bah, said that they categorically reject and defy the mandate of the Ministry of Labour ordering them to immediately reinstate suspended President Carlon.
He stated that Mr. Carlon has deliberately refused to recognize and respect the authority of the Board of Directors of the Tailor Union as provided for by the constitution by failing to submit his reports to the Board of Directors.
According to Mr. Bah, the Board of Directors of the Tailors Union is the highest decision-making organ of the organization in the absence of a convention.
He pointed out that the Constitution gives the Board of Directors the authority to approve all budgetary proposals, to appoint an auditor, or to consider audited financial reports, alleging that all of these constitutional provisions have been breached by Mr. Carlon.
“Let us emphatically state that the Ministry of Labour, through the Minister for Manpower Planning and Human Resources Development, Madam Hannah M. Kargbo, has chosen to interfere in the affairs of the Union. Madam Kargbo’s action violates International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention Number 87, Article 3.1,” he stated.
According to him, number 87, article 3.1, states that workers and employers organizations shall have the right to draw up their constitution and rules to elect their representatives in full freedom to organize their administration and activities and formulate programs.
“Instead of Mr. Carlon ensuring that the constitution of the union is adhered to, he chose to go to the Ministry of Labor to shield himself. Mr. Carlon is yet to account for US$ 4, 000.00 given to the union by the Union of Liberian Associations in America (ULAA) for the production of nose masks. Also, US$5,000.00 given by UNICEF for the production of nose masks is yet to be accounted for. Worst of all, Mr. Carlon had brought the union into public disrepute by failing to acquire office space for the union,” he stated.
Mr. Bah further indicated that it’s within this context that the constitution of Liberia gives the right to all organizations to craft their constitution or rules, provided they don’t conflict with the constitution of Liberia.
“Based upon that, we are prepared to challenge the decision of the Ministry of Labour at the National Labour Court, as we have already contacted our lawyers to ensure that the appropriate legal actions are instituted.” We also want to send a caveat that the Ministry can’t run the day-to-day activities of the Tailor Union,” Mr. Bah noted.
He disclosed that the Ministry also doesn’t have the right to impose any individual on the union or to sideline or ignore the constitutional provisions of the union. Mr. Bah added that this is unacceptable, illegal, and bent on encouraging a culture of impunity and brewing confusion and disharmony in the Union.
He maintained that, therefore, the mandate from the Ministry of Labour to reinstate Mr. Carlon was rejected by the Board of Directors of the Tailor Union. He described the action as a mere attempt to mislead Mr. Carlos and to encourage financial malpractices, administrative misconduct, and breaches of the Union Constitution.
“The Board of Directors of the Tailor Union wants to clearly state that Mr. Carlon remains indefinitely suspended. And we would like to reaffirm that the appointment of Mr. Ezekiel S. Kamara, Sr., as the Acting President of the Union, still reposes confidence in Mr. Kamara to take the Union to its convention,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, speaking in an interview with suspended President Edison Carlon, he denied any misappropriation or corruption, adding that he was audited and found not guilty.
“My brother, this is the third time that the board has suspended me, and I always win them at the Labor Ministry. What they said I did, I didn’t do; they were the ones that were found guilty and refused to cooperate. I was audited by the ministry and set free. Now, all they need to do is have me reinstated,” he noted.
