The charging of the president of the Barbados Prison Officers Association Trevor Browne has been called unprecedented.
While saying they would be waiting for the result of the pending court case, the Congress of Trade Unions and Trade Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) said it would also be offering full support to one of its affiliate members.
“This particular development is unprecedented in the labour movement in Barbados. What we have to do is be concerned about our member and a member organisation and get a handle on what happened and see how we can give our support. We will respect the process and not critique the law, we just need to resolve what the circumstances are first,” said general secretary Dennis De Peiza.
President Edwin O’Neal added: “It is unfortunate that in 2018 a trade unionist could be arrested while performing his role. We are awaiting a full and formal brief as we cannot intrude onto the investigative process.”
Browne is charged with inciting four fellow officers to desert their duties.
O’Neal and De Peiza were speaking during a Press conference yesterday at the Barbados Union of Teachers and while being careful not to link Browne’s case, O’Neal said labour was under threat.
“We have reached the point where labour and capital can sit together at the table [civilly] but there seems to be individuals who don’t respect the process and the progress made in the past 80 years,” he said.
The CTUSAB president said HMP Dodds had serious union-related issues and he hoped “the dramatic developments that led to the arrest of comrade Browne would see equal movement in addressing the instability. (CA)
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