Workers at Goddard Catering Group (GCG) have resumed operations at Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) following discussions with the Barbados Workers Union (BWU) today.
Dwaine Paul, Deputy General Secretary of the BWU, said the discussions followed a breakdown in earlier negotiations between staff and management amid reports that GCG staff were on strike.
He noted that the union met with workers on-site after receiving information from management, which enabled operations to resume.
“During the discussion, we would have also received some information from management which enabled us then to advance discussions with the workers towards resuming operations today,” Paul said.
He stressed, however, that the matter was not fully resolved.
Paul said that a number of issues affecting staff across different airport divisions remained outstanding and warned that further industrial action could occur if timely resolutions were not reached.
“The main issue within GCG surrounded their terms and conditions, wages, and salaries. These matters have been under discussion for more than two years and we were promised in terms of advancement that we would have that before today and that did not materialise,” he said.
Paul also said that mechanisms for addressing worker concerns often took too long, leaving staff frustrated.
The union is scheduled to meet with GCG next Tuesday to continue discussions based on correspondence received during today’s talks.
He urged management to resolve outstanding matters promptly to ensure cooperation from workers, especially as the airport enters its busy season. (AM)
