Sugar workers issue still to be solved

After two and a half hours of discussion with the Barbados Workers’ Union, led by General Secretary Sir Roy Trotman, today, the Barbados Agricultural Management Company (BAMC) agreed to go away and resubmit a new proposal to resolve the controversy surrounding sugar workers, by tomorrow.
In a release last Friday, the Opposition Barbados Labour Party had expressed its displeasure with what it said was “the termination of more than 100 employees at Andrews Factory and the putting on pause of workers at Portvale for six weeks . . . from June 25 until August 12, 2013”.
Following a meeting with sugar factory workers on Saturday, Sir Roy told the media that “no sugar workers will be going home until the Barbados Workers Union” conducts proper discussions with management” of BAMC.
A release from BWU stated that the understanding of today’s meeting which was also led by BAMC’s Arni Walters, the workers will continue to work as though there were no letters written on June 14, 2013. The release also stated that such action will clear the way for discussion to be held under normal industrial relations practices. (AH)