CAN STABILITY in labour and social relations be maintained and progress in national economic endeavours be achieved without the participation of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) in the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations (CTUSAB)?
Without doubt the answer is yes.
Is it in the best interest of the country for the separation between the island’s most powerful, and perhaps most respected union, and the ever-so-important umbrella body for such organisations to continue?
The answer this time has to be a resounding no.
The BWU, since its formation in the early 1940s, and coming out of the disturbances of the late 1930s, has contributed immensely to the development of our country – and its leaders have been pillars of support of national development. Not every Barbadian would have agreed with every action taken by the union, but it would be almost impossible for anyone to argue plausibly that any leader has ever acted in a manner that was intended to destabilise the island.
It is against this background of unchallengeable national contribution that the divide between the union and CTUSAB, which it was instrumental in forming in the early 1990 when the country faced economic and industrial turmoil, must be viewed. Covered by this umbrella, the island’s unions joined Government, the church, business community and other entities under what is now a respected Social Partnership that has played no small role in helping the country to navigate some treacherous waters over the last two decades.
Unfortunately, the challenges we have all faced since the late 2000s have proven to be far more persistent and unshakeable than even the experts had predicted, and it is clear that the impact on individuals and communities is starting to rattle some of the social norms that have guaranteed our stability and security going back at least to the 1960s.
Barbados needs a cohesive labour movement now more than ever and while functional cooperation, as demonstrated by the unions during the recent spat between the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) and the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) is commendable, it can be no substitute for a structured and clearly defined organisational bond.
The BWU is too important for that organisation to remain outside the door at this time, particularly when it can be quite easily argued that in the grand scheme of things the issue that led to its separation was not nearly so fundamental that it should have caused or maintained the fracture.
It is time for people and organisations whose very existence and success were built on their ability to negotiate – and who have, in the case of the BWU, proven for well over 60 years that they can do so effectively – to do what they are known for. It is time to settle the issue.
The BWU’s new boss, despite her young age, did not rise to that position by demonstrating that she can’t lead. We expect that at 39 years old Ms Toni Moore will have a long and distinguished career as BWU general secretary. She can start defining that legacy now by leading the union back to the CTUSAB fold.