THE NATIONAL UNION of Public Workers (NUPW) appears to be more interested in marching along the streets of Bridgetown than sitting at the negotiating table, says Minister of Labour Senator Dr Esther Byer.
She said the union had not approached the Labour Department to reach any sort of solution to the current problem with the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) and she saw no justification for other entities getting involved.
“I fully respect the workers’ right to protest for what they think is fair and just, but my position is [the NUPW] has not exhausted the level of consultation available to them. My office has indicated its willingness to get involved but nobody has approached my office, the Labour Department or the Chief Labour Officer, so I really cannot see any justification for it escalating further by the involvement of other parties without the proper consultation,” she said.