Workers at the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) temporarily walked off the job yesterday morning at its headquarters in The Pine, St Michael.
While the reasons for unionised staff taking the industrial action were not clear, the Daily Nation understands the action was a result of unpaid backpay.
When a team visited the BWA’s headquarters early yesterday, hundreds of workers were on the outside of the building. Many of those questioned were tight-lipped on the issue but one worker said they were considering taking action in order to get their money.
“We are tired of waiting and we just want our money. We have been waiting for this money for a long time and we aren’t hearing anything,” the worker said.
Some workers were also heard venting their frustrations and suggesting that they were not going back to work until they were given a meeting with BWA general manager Keithroy Halliday.
Following a brief meeting with management, staff were reportedly instructed to return to work until further notice. Some returned to their jobs while some openly said they were heading home.
In late 2016, BWA workers walked off the job over issues with unpaid increments. The workers subsequently returned to work after month-long industrial action after they were promised the monies owed to them.
Efforts to reach Halliday were unsuccessful and manager of communications and rapid response Joy-Ann Haigh said she was unaware of any industrial action and referred any comments to Halliday. The Barbados Workers’ Union deputy general secretary Dwaine Paul said he was unaware of the issue and said Toni Moore, the general secretary, would be the person to comment. Repeated efforts to get her were unsuccessful. (DB)