To the Board of NAPB,
We, members of this prestigious union writing this message with a great deal of disappointment, frustration and, quite frankly, disgust after seeing the attached announcement inviting members to a joint general meeting involving WICSU-PSU, WITU and NAPB, om Wednesday November 4th, 2026, at the John Larmonie Center, at 6 p.m. until 9.30 p.m.
Let us be very clear: this is not about refusing cooperation between unions. It is about principles, dignity, respect and the manner in which NAPB has allowed itself to arrive at this point.
We find it extremely difficult to understand how an organization such as NAPB, together with ABVO, can accept a situation in which both unions, representing some of the largest memberships and possessing considerable experience in justice-related matters, were pushed out of the CCSU, and today we are expected to accept a joint meeting with the very organization whose leadership was at the center of that situation.
Are we supposed to pretend that nothing happened?
Are we supposed to forget that NAPB and ABVO were no longer welcomed within the CCSU following the position reportedly taken by the president of WICSU-PSU, who allegedly made it clear to the Prime Minister that if NAPB and ABVO were allowed to return to the CCSU, he would take the matter to court?
If that is indeed what happened, then we as members have a very simple question: Since when does one union get to dictate which other unions are allowed to represent their members?
And what happened to the fundamental principles of freedom of association?
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is very clear about the importance of these principles.
ILO Convention No. 87, the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention, recognizes the right of workers to establish and join organizations of their own choosing. Article 3 protects the right of workers’ organizations to elect their representatives freely, organize their activities and formulate their programs without interference from public authorities.
Article 11 further requires the protection of the right to organize.
These are not principles that should be remembered only when they are convenient. They are fundamental principles that should guide every trade union and every organization claiming to represent workers.
We are also aware that Article 9 of Convention No. 87 makes specific provision for the extent to which these guarantees apply to members of the police, as determined by national laws and regulations. That makes it even more important that our representatives understand the applicable legal framework and defend the rights of their members through the proper channels.
Our concerns are not that NAPB is sitting at a table with other unions. Our concerns are that NAPB appears willing to move forward without first addressing the circumstances that led to its exclusion from the CCSU.
What has changed?
Has WICSU-PSU withdrawn its position? Has there been an apology? Has there been a formal understanding? Has the matter of NAPB and ABVO’s participation in the CCSU been resolved? Have the members been informed of what has taken place behind closed doors?
Or are we simply expected to swallow our pride, attend the meeting and act as though the entire episode never happened?
That is where w believe the Board owes its members an explanation.
Let us not forget that NAPB and ABVO are not insignificant organizations. They have members who have dedicated decades of their professional lives to the justice sector. They have experience, institutional knowledge and a history of standing up for the interests of their members.
And yet, we have reached a point where the organizations that should be demanding respect and accountability appear to be accommodating a situation that has caused considerable frustration among their own membership.
To us as members, this is a humiliation of the highest order.
We refuse to believe that the Board does not understand how this situation looks to its members. We are not naïve. We know what happened, we have heard the discussions, and we understand the circumstances surrounding the departure of NAPB and ABVO from the CCSU.
You cannot expect members to remain silent while decisions of this magnitude are taken without proper explanation.
The Board must also understand that attending a joint meeting is one thing, but restoring trust and demonstrating that NAPB has not compromised its independence and dignity is another.
I therefore expect the Board to address the following questions openly:
1. Why has NAPB agreed to participate in this joint meeting without first publicly addressing its exclusion from the CCSU?
2. What is the current position of WICSU-PSU regarding the return of NAPB and ABVO to the CCSU?
3. Has the Board formally discussed this matter, and were the interests and concerns of the membership taken into consideration?
4. What concrete steps is NAPB taking to ensure that no other union can dictate or undermine its legitimate position as a representative of its members?
5. Does the Board intend to pursue the restoration of NAPB and ABVO’s rightful place in the relevant consultation and negotiation structures?
We are not asking NAPB to create unnecessary conflict. We are asking NAPB to demonstrate leadership, courage and respect for the people who have placed their trust in this organization.
A union cannot demand respect from the Government while remaining silent when its own dignity and independence are at stake.
Please do not confuse cooperation with surrender, and do not mistake the silence of members for acceptance.
We pay our contributions, we place our confidence in our representatives, and we expect them to stand up for us. That responsibility does not disappear when political pressure, disagreements or difficult relationships enter the picture.
The Board should remember that NAPB belongs to its members, not the other way around.
We sincerely hope this message will be taken in the spirit in which it is written: not as an attempt to destroy the organization, but as a wake-up call to a Board that must understand that its members are watching, questioning and expecting answers.
NAPB must stand for something. It must stand for its members, its principles and its dignity. Otherwise, what exactly are we paying our membership contributions for?
With profound disappointment,
Concerned and deeply disappointed NAPB members
