Deputy general secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) Dwaine Paul, warned there was still the possibility of further industrial action if longstanding health and safety issues at the Barbados National Energy Co. Ltd (BNECL) were not addressed.
Paul was speaking outside the BNECL’s Woodbourne, St Philip plant this morning where workers were off the job.
“Their services were withdrawn in support of their colleagues who work in the gas plant area of this operation. The gas plant is responsible for the circulation of all natural gas across the country,” Paul explained.
“It is regrettable that we had to reach this stage where the workers had to collectively withdrew their labour and that was done because there are several issues relating primarily to health and safety concerns raised by the workers in that section that have gone unresolved.”
The trade unionist said after receiving a commitment from management that corrective action would be taken, workers would be back on the job. In the short term, there is to be a meeting and an assessment of the issues. A wider plan is to be drafted over the next 24 hours.
“Note well that failure to address the issues reported by the staff will result in the workers returning to the street in support of their colleagues because when it comes to the matter of health and safety, there is no room to negotiate. It is the onus on every employer to make sure that their workers are fully protected. If you are interested in people’s well-being then you have to be interested in their safety,” Paul said.
As a result, the protest action was on pause, he said, not ended, and they were prepared to return today, if necessary.
Paul told members of the public this could also impact on their supply of natural gas.
“While the matter of gas supply is critical to the nation, we will not sacrifice anybody to meet that objective. Therefore, if the workers have to withdraw their services again, they will do so with the full support of the Barbados Workers’ Union and if that means the plant will have to be closed and there will have to be disruption in natural gas and natural gas supply, that will be the case.”
Paul said when workers repeatedly raised issues over time, they should not me bet with deafness. (SAT)