Minister of Labour Colin Jordan will chair a meeting between the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) and management of G4S Secure Solutions Barbados today.
It comes on the request of the BWU to resolve industrial relations matters it says have been on the table for about five years. Last week, G4S promised to provide a wages proposal, but failed to do so.
Workers were again out in their numbers yesterday protesting in front of the company’s Brighton, Black Rock, St Michael office and the BWU
The following is part of the statement – excluding the meeting – issued by the Barbados Workers’ Union regarding the impasse.
This crisis more than any other has brought to bear that the time is now for labour to stand together – from tourism, to security, to construction and in every other industry – G4S as in all other such cases ‘Be Warned’.
Strong words from the General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), Toni Moore, as the organisation promises to advocate against any exploits by companies, like G4S, seeking to disenfranchise workers. The current situation in the Industrial Relations space has been amplified over the last few weeks because of some who are not negotiating in good faith.
The G4S Security personnel’s demonstration against the company today comes after protracted negotiations, individual grievances, Union grievances which are currently before the Labour Department, and a long list of outstanding issues dating back five years.
During that time, G4S has refused to honour the principle of equal pay for equal work, and these workers have been extremely patient throughout the negotiating process. The workers have allowed for the Labour Department and the Ministry of Labour to conciliate on the outstanding matters, but what caused the impasse is the company’s reneging on its commitment to submit a two-year wages proposal. G4S had previously agreed to submit the proposal and in a subsequent meeting redrew their position.
The Executive Council of the Barbados Workers’ Union is prepared to escalate this matter to the highest level if needs be, to ensure that G4S and other companies operating in the Barbadian environment understand that the rules, principles, and practices governing Industrial Relations in this country must be adhered to and that justice is brought to all workers in these situations. (PR/SAT)
