AMONG THE PROPOSALS for helping to pull the state-owned Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) out of its abyss of debt, we have learned, are temporary lay-offs of staff – at least 25 of them every ten weeks.
Along with a ten per cent cut of managers’ salaries, CBC’s top management figures this would reduce considerably the company’s crushing $1.6 million monthly wage bill.
The corporation’s accompanying challenge is that it faces a request for a ten per cent pay increase for its unionised staff, having confessed to the Barbados Workers’ Union that it does not have the money to meet the BWU’s “high demand”.
It would appear that subsequent to this recent “unproductive” meeting between the state-run agency and the union, a higher than normal number of CBC TV workers became ill, not reporting for work last Friday and even Tuesday this week. The reported sickness saw general manager Doug Hoyte reverting to his role of television host on Mornin’ Barbados, in the absence of Cassandra Samuels and Shane Sealy.
Mr Hoyte, seemingly, was not fazed by the sickness disruption, and would cast no aspersions on the sickly or the Barbados Workers’ Union. Said he: “. . . To be fair, anyone can get ill. I am not going to suggest anything, because I have not been told that this part of any strategic drive to get us back to the bargaining table.”
He would not be drawn into the reports that CBC workers had staged a sick-out in protest over long-delayed wage negotiations.
As important – and perhaps even more significant – was Mr Hoyte’s declaration that the number of CBC staff calling in sick had had no impact on the operations of The Pine, St Michael institution. If this was actually the case, there might be the argument presented that the corporation is overstaffed, and CBC can get bywith fewer people.
The temporary lay-offs proposed earlier could graduate to permanency. And, the Government might even be prodded into considering cutting the annual subvention to the state-owned broadcasting company.
Truth be told, Mr Hoyte must be given some credit for – at least overtly – not jumping to conclusions and being influenced by sneaky suspicions and rumours. But the solution to the CBC predicament does not end there.
Heads of both management and labour must come together to address these pertinent matters of pay increments, cause of absenteeism, and the sustenance of the corporation for the good of all. In this economic downturn we are facing as a country, making some sacrifice and compromise, on both sides, for the future economic prosperity of CBC is crucial – and commonsensical.
Perhaps, Mr Hoyte – with his media experience, managerial skill and public relations tact – will light the way out of the black hole for CBC, by ensuring that above-board and audited financial statements become a natural thing, improved broadcasting standards and programmes the norm, and a healthy and happy staff the corporation’s added insignia.