Trade unions need to take on a new role and encourage productivity and competitiveness among businesses.
This is the view of Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM Robert “Bobby” Morris, who said the labour movement now had to take a more micro focus and help companies expand into global markets so they can earn much needed foreign exchange.
“This is separate and distinct from the role of the trade union at the macro societal and economic level in structures such as social partnerships where they can help to define and implement national strategic objectives,” he said while delivering the keynote address at the inaugural Caribbean Excellence Conference Tuesday at the Aquatica Beach Resort, St Michael.
“I don’t think anybody would challenge whether there should be trade unions. I think what we’re talking about is how they perform and how they change to reflect the times in which we are,” he said. (NB)
