71st Annual Report 2012 - Barbados Workers` Union

Transcription

Linda Brooks
(President General)
REPORT
OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
OF
THE BARBADOS WORKERS’ UNION
for the period
September 2011 to August 2012
PRESENTED TO
THE SEVENTY-FIRST ANNUAL
DELEGATES’ CONFERENCE
held at the
Barbados Workers’ Union Headquarters,
“Solidarity House”
Harmony Hall, St. Michael
on
Saturday, August 25, 2012
and
Saturday, September 1, 2012
THE 71st ANNUAL REPORT ‘11 - ‘12 | 1
2 | THE 71st ANNUAL REPORT ‘11 - ‘12
Vision Statement
“To be an excellent trade union provider
of labour market services in Barbados
and the wider Caribbean and to improve the
quality of life of all Barbadians through
participatory representation.”
Mission Statement
Through teamwork, to enhance the organisation’s performance
and improve the quality of life for workers and other vulnerable groups
through organising, education, collective bargaining, tripartite social
dialogue, lobbying for policies which defend their rights and interests
and promoting diversity.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1
“NOT MERELY CONNECTED, BUT UNITED” 5
CHAPTER 2
BARBADOS IN THE CRISIS 9
CHAPTER 3
FINANCE AND HOUSING 29
CHAPTER 4
EDUCATION 31
CHAPTER 5
STANDING COMMITTEES 34
CHAPTER 6
MAY DAY 40
CHAPTER 7
YOUTH ARM
49
CHAPTER 8
AFFILIATIONS52
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN54
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
56
Standing Committees
56
Administration60
Headquarters61
Labour College
62
Staff Movements
63
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SERVICE65
Chapter 1
THERE COMES A TIME in the life of every one of us
whether we are individuals, associations or even the
State itself when we become challenged, as it were, down
to the very foundations of our being. Indeed for some of
us, it may happen frequently as we confront those devils
which may be found in our path.
Those devils may be of our own making; for, from time
to time, we become our own worst enemies and allow
what is within us to deflect us from our purpose. This
may be fear; the fear of failure, the fear of our fallibility
or incapacity; or it may be the fear of being different and
thus be the fear of drawing attention to ourselves.
Our own devil may become complacency, our sense
that somehow we have achieved our objective and may
thereafter rest satisfied that we have been successful.
Whereas we may enjoy such satisfaction when we set
finite specific goals, we must not be lulled into any false
sense of security when we are dealing with the social
behaviour of the human spirit. Where that behaviour
speaks to matters of continuity, then it is subject to
change and sometimes to change which will disorient
and unsettle even the strongest among us.
There will be other times when our crossroad experiences will be the result of cynical or even sinister individual or collective action by those whose comfort zones
we may have trespassed into, and who do not wish to
make the obvious social adjustments which our trespass
may highlight. By the very articles of our association,
the Barbados Workers’ Union falls into the category of
those who will trouble the waters of various and varying elements within our community. Our first task is to
organise the weak, the defenceless, the vulnerable, the
unfocussed, the unobservant and those persons in need
of an anchor.
We came into existence seventy years ago to unite those
helpless souls so as to ensure that the commanding
heights of our economy would no longer be commandeered for the private profit of the privileged few but
rather in a way that would see fairness, equity and social
justice being realised.
Over our seven decades of existence, the pursuit of the
objective of a more just society, equal before God and
“NOT MERELY
CONNECTED,
BUT UNITED”
in the eyes of the law has taken on different forms as we
have sought to fulfil our mandate. We have organised
those who would; we have kept vigil over their health
and safety at work; we have been the national champions for the establishment of a liveable minimum wage in
agriculture, in the distributive trades and hopefully soon
for Security Guards. Indeed we have been the social conscience of the nation.
The B.W.U. has been in the vanguard in providing training and education, including in productivity enhancement and in workplace excellence. We provide such
training when the overwhelming majority of business
and industry leaders decline formally to train their staff
even when they lament the negative consequences of
their indifference. None can deny the remarkable beneficial effect of the endeavours of the Trade Union.
Regrettably, there are some within the said community
who seek to concern themselves only with the level of
personal benefit they may derive from the efforts of the
Trade Union; they do not hear – they certainly do not
heed – the call for DECENT WORK which labour is
forced to make repeatedly. They become offended when
we highlight evidence of workplace discrimination, or of
dangerous and unsafe work environments. When we expose work practices which would see legal prosecution
in some countries we draw the ire of prejudiced persons
who, at the same time, should wish to be respected.
The Barbados Workers’ Union considers that in situations such as those examined in its opening paragraphs,
the course of action is very clear for members and supporters alike; the Lord Moyne Commission did not recommend the establishment of the Trade Union in Barbados to win any popularity competition. Our history
speaks for itself.
We challenge those who have set themselves up as our
pain-inflicting judges, to see who are advising employers to return to jungle warfare, dismissing workers without giving them a chance to be heard and without due
consideration for their years of service. We challenge
them to strike a blow for enlightened management behaviour and for decent work practices. We urge those
who are politically motivated to go into their chosen
constituencies and to pronounce on when a woman and
her partner should plan to have a child, or to explain
why it may be proper for two persons to work for the
same employer doing identical work, with the employer
seeking to justify why the non-national should be paid
more. Kindly publicise the response of the constituents,
however painful it may be.
Just a short while ago, world leaders met in Rio, Brazil,
and signed on to a new Protocol where they shared a
“common vision” in which eradication of poverty is seen
as “the greatest global challenge facing the world today”,
prompting those said leaders to commit to freeing humanity from poverty and hunger as a matter of urgency.
They acknowledged the need to further mainstream sustainable development at all levels integrating economic,
social and environmental aspects and recognising their
interlinkages, so as to achieve sustainable development
in all its dimensions.
The signatories to Rio+20 have recommitted to all of
the Declarations, Standards and Protocols relating to
sustainability and the Human Environment going as far
back as the Stockholm Declaration of 1972. The issues
covered do not relate to the Environment only but treat
also with the World Summit for Social Development,
with the Millennium Development Goals and with
whatever else has been addressed to deal with the viability and survival of nations across the world.
They have echoed the demand which the B.W.U. and
other unions make daily even though they are vilified
for doing so. They recognise that “workers should have
access to education, skills, healthcare, social security,
fundamental rights at work, social and legal protection,
including occupational safety and health, and Decent
Work opportunities.”
The B.W.U. is pleased to note that the mushrooming of
the informal sector has not escaped the signatories of this
latest Rio Protocol. They have recognised that “informal,
unpaid work performed mostly by women, contributes
substantially to human wellbeing and sustainable development.” In this regard they have committed themselves
“to work towards safe and decent working conditions
and access to social protection and education.”
In short, as the world did in the immediate aftermath
of the first World War, the world has again committed
itself to Peace, Bread, Justice and, let us add, Democracy.
And yet the same signatory Governments were not able
to sign on to the Kyoto Protocol and save our planet; nor
have they found a way to stop the bloodshed in Syria.
They are nowhere near to answering the question of
having Palestine and Israel settle in peace, side by side,
each sharing a part of the city of Jerusalem. They were
not able to work together to reduce the cost of the medication to treat HIV/AIDS and thus save the lives possibly
of millions.
This is so because the world over, we are intellectually
connected and are well able to present the case or follow someone else who presents the case for loosening
the many GORDION KNOTS which have tied the hands
of those who would “do good.” But more is required;
much, much more.
The recently elected President of Peru, Señor Ollanta
Humala Tasso represents what the B.W.U. is hoping to
see in many other communities all over the world. Before
his election one year ago, indigenous persons, though
striving to experience Decent Work in their community,
found near insurmountable barriers at every turn. Señor Tasso made it clear that “Peruvian Democracy will
be fully-fledged when justice and social peace, national
sovereignty and the security of our families constitute
the foundation on which our nation stands, when equity
is the birthright of every individual, and when social exclusion has been eradicated...”
The Barbados Workers’ Union believes that these sentiments should be captured here and at this time in our
history. They are relevant because they speak even now
to this region’s experience and to our seemingly neverending search for social justice and for a community free
from discrimination. They are relevant too because they
speak to a recognition of the cynicism, and even to the
general indifference which is shown by many who can
make a difference to those who are looking to them for
help.
Señor Tasso in twelve short months has managed to give
hope and a voice to those who had continued the battle
for social justice even though the disappointments had
been many and had been discouraging. Many heretofore
marginalised persons have been given the opportunity
to participate in the real economy and to help build their
country. ILO Director General, Ambassador Juan Somavia is absolutely correct when he avers that “in many
ways the quality of a society is defined by the quality of
the jobs it provides for its people.”
For his part, President Tasso, in an address to the 101st
International Labour Conference of the ILO, emphasised
that “in our globalised world we need to firmly establish
fundamental standards and (to) respect fundamental
rights such as freedom of association and the right to
collective bargaining. We have to prohibit discrimination in employment and eliminate both forced labour
and child labour.”
President Tasso has obviously set himself very clearly defined goals, and he is pursuing those goals even though
he may be facing several difficult obstacles. He has made
it clear that the present provides an opportunity “that we
must not waste.”
How vastly different has our local, our present day Barbados become! We are aware of the growth pains being experienced by countries like our own. We are conscious of the barriers, human and natural, which impede
our efforts and sometimes prevent them altogether. We
should, as a people, be resolute enough and sufficiently
complete in our awareness, to recognise another truth
as well.
This truth was shared by Madame Aung San Suu Kyi,
Nobel Peace Prize winner and Chairperson of the National League for Democracy in Myanmar (Burma).
Speaking at the same 101st International Labour Conference she declared that:
“Unless we aim at achieving the best that might be
possible, we will be in danger of having to make do
with the least that is tolerable in the short run. In
the long run, as powers of tolerance run out, unrest
and instability will erode the progress that has already been gained.” UNLESS!
The second relates to an artificial crisis deliberately introduced on 01st May, 2012 to deflect the thoughts of
perceptive Barbadians away from the real thrust of the
May Day Message delivered for this Union by its Chief
Executive Officer, Senator Sir Roy Trotman. It is known
and clearly understood now that there was no slight in
naming a Jew by his country of origin. The entire North
African population is so divided. One gets Moroccan
Jews, Tunisian Jews, Algerian Jews, Ethiopian Jews,
Egyptian Jews and so on. The reference to an Egyptian
Jew was never really a cause for concern.
What then, is it, the Executive Council of the B.W.U.
wishes to ask the Press and the two politicians, that they
did not wish to have the public understand and express
an opinion on?
It is clear that they did not wish the workers of Barbados on the Workers’ Day to get a whiff of the atrocities
which some of them have no difficulty in tolerating.
The plea made on 1st May was that Barbadians of goodwill should come together to ensure that the gains advanced by the Tripartite Social Partnership should not
be sacrificed on the altar of personal greed and anti-Barbadian discrimination.
The Executive Council is aware that it is fashionable to
neglect the challenge posed by the clause following our
UNLESS and to proceed to blame others when the outcome in an issue differs from what the unfocussed and
those with impaired vision thought they would find.
In the Labour Movement itself there have been glaring
examples of late regarding what can go wrong when we
are merely intellectually connected, but lack the perspicacity to recognise the full extent of the unfolding plan.
In one instance the Movement was deflected from addressing the fundamental question of its role as defined
ever since Trade Unions made their mark generally and
in Barbados in particular. That instance, the Alexandra
School Dilemma, is now properly with a Governmentappointed review body, as it should be. The reference
to it is to underscore the importance of having institutions with human responsibilities as critical as those of
a Trade Union not to be diverted from their mandate.
BWU General Secretary, Comrade Senator Sir Roy Trotman (at left in
white shirt) meets with the workers of Diamonds International, at
“Solidarity House.”
The second plea was that our practice of equal treatment: of equal pay for equal work, for equal application
of all, for ALL human and trade union rights be evenly
applied, rather than in a discriminatory manner. Where
John Public responded harshly or even spitefully, that is
his/her right and should be the expectation of the Union.
Where Trade Union leaders miss the bus, this represents
a wake-up call for Union leaders to be urged to rouse
themselves from their slothfulness. The point must be
made here, and reinforced, that a Union position taken
for workers should not be surrendered because it would
make a special interest group happy.
If Labour is going to achieve anything it will not do so
by pandering to any class, or creed or ethnic grouping.
It is not enough merely to be connected in this debate.
Labour must be united.
This year’s Annual Delegates’ Conference comes on the
heels of the country’s observance of the 75th anniversary of the July 26, 1937 disturbances in Barbados. To
some, the moment may have intellectually registered but
otherwise dismissed because of the more exciting allurement in the bacchanalian dimension of the observance.
For some others the closeness of the day, July 26, to
Emancipation Day, August 1, may have deflected some
of the focus which Barbadians of all persuasions should
direct to those days of working class protest against the
Old Order and their public declaration that they would
fight and sacrifice for a New Society. And yet some others may have sought to remove themselves socially from
the umbilical cord of our birth into opportunity in an
enlightened Barbados.
The Clement Payne Movement is to be complimented
for its efforts to keep alive the spirit of the Freedom
Fighter who, with his small army of soldiers, sought to
AGITATE, to ADVOCATE and march for a better Barbados. Those of us in other groups within the Labour
Movement are constantly reminded of the debt we owe
to these martyrs and to those others who toiled from
those early beginnings to develop the society where a
person is a person whatever his/her colour or circumstance of birth and where we may all find peace and
justice, equality of opportunity and protection against
discrimination.
July 26 links us up on a seasonal basis. Those who fervently seek the more just society cannot be satisfied with
the superficiality of the effort; nor will their quest be answered by the saddening divisiveness to be encountered
today among the many who seek to be designated as
leaders in the ongoing struggle for the more just society.
We have to wrestle with our devils more fiercely; we
must strive to advance beyond the intellectual acknowledgement which now presents itself; we must each of us
reignite the torch we once held aloft clearly to illuminate
the freedom path which may have become obscured.
BWU Executive Councillor Comrade Heather Coward-Downes portrays
the ‘mauby woman’ in the march to mark the 75th Anniversary of the
1937 Disturbances, on Thursday, July 26, 2012.
Chapter 2
BARBADOS IN
THE CRISIS
IF IT WERE NEEDED then, the year under review has
provided the evidence that the much-touted improved
society promised at the beginning of this wave of Globalisation has turned out to be just that – a promise.
Cracks in the walls built by the architects became evident from the very earliest stages, and none of the many
promises made by the framers and the drivers, was ever
fully able to convince the small, the vulnerable and the
marginalised among the lesser members of the postMarrakesh global community.
The challenges to Globalisation will take some years before a clear picture emerges. It is to be hoped that the
Caribbean, the entire Caribbean, will graduate toward
a single response geared toward consolidating and defending the Caribbean Basin.
Barbados, like most other under-developed or developing communities in the revised global structure, sought
to conform and to keep up with the myriads of new rules
and regulations that the New Order, led by Western Europe, imposed practically on a monthly basis. Whatever
elements of comparative advantage which countries like
Barbados enjoyed were stripped away by interests which
refused to accept the minuscule levels of input from
these marginalised contributors to their World Markets.
They shaved the sales prices of our products; they restricted our choices in their trading partners; they removed our quota guarantees. When we rebounded and
sought to re-enter the market with new products, they
imposed such conditions for entry that made many efforts untenable. One of the most hostile of these measures lies in Britain’s sword thrust into the heart of one
of those colonies on which the “Great” British Empire
had managed to grow and expand.
Barbados and many others have seen the concerted efforts over many years. They are nowhere more evident
than with the crushing body blows to bananas and later
to sugar. Everywhere it has happened individual Third
World states have been able to follow the game plan and
to recognise the ultimate objective. They have managed
to keep one another informed; but they have not been
able even in the ACP partnership with Europe to find
common ground on which to launch any meaningful
coordinated response.
The Barbados Workers’ Union posits that it is not enough
to be connected and to share information merely for
the intellectual satisfaction of our correspondents; it is
necessary to unify our response. The Executive Council
recognises the value of its mantra now more than ever:
UNITY IS STRENGTH.
In this crisis, Barbados is not the worst performer even
though its Sugar, its Offshore Business and particularly
its Tourism have all suffered direct hits. Tourism, though
remaining the main foreign exchange earner, accounting
for 38% of the total, has been, and can be expected to be
further impacted by the re-entering of the UK, the country’s main source market for tourists, into recession.
The Executive Council is happy to note evidence of any
increases in Tourism activity which has been reported.
In the region the recent report that Antigua benefitted
from a twelve percent (12%) improvement over the first
six months of 2012 was welcomed as a good indicator
that tourist travel is alive, if more discriminating. The
balancing information that the rest of the year will see a
reversal is however sobering.
The Executive Council considers that the promotional
efforts should benefit from the accentuated interest of
the Social Partnership in building a more professional
service community which will help in bringing comparative advantage to Barbados.
The adverse effect of all this might have been worse if
Barbados as a country did not have a sound, experienced Tripartite Social Partnership. Where others may
have taken note of the global crisis at the same time as
Barbados, the Social Partners in Barbados recognised
that the open street revolts and the public expressions
by the youth of other communities of their dissatisfaction could, and should, be contained. Speedy inclusive
initiatives need to be developed to give hope to those
who are without concrete elements on which to pin their
dreams and expectations.
It will not be denied that for some years now the B.W.U.
has been calling for an Affirmative Action Plan which
would see a deliberate policy initiative to remove discrimination against persons with disabilities and to
encourage our younger labour force entrants. The response that it was not Government’s policy, reviewed
ten years later, demonstrates the value in examining and
introducing good ideas even when they emanate from
sources other than oneself.
recommendations aimed at improving the welfare of
citizens especially in those areas highlighted in the
Country Assessment of Living Conditions Report.
The Union’s position on employment as a vehicle for
sustainable management of the country, and as a basis
for eventual economic growth and social development,
was another similar initiative which one must reflect
upon. In this instance when the B.W.U. first raised the
idea of concessionary bargaining for employment preservation in October 2007, it was favourably received.
When it was raised on April 25, 2008, it was raised before Wall Street acknowledged that global gamblers had
rolled away the stability of the Western World.
2. The Efficiency Working Group, chaired by Senator,
The Hon. Darcy Boyce and co-chaired by Brother
Dennis DePeiza. It has thus far made submissions
based on the need for immediate action in the areas
of Public Sector Reform, the need for Sanitary and
Phyto-sanitary legislation and the need for reorganisation of the Government Legal Services.
Even so, the Social Partnership is to be complimented for
heeding the voice of the leadership of the national Trade
Union Congress. It cannot be repeated often enough that
that “no layoff” pledge, made at the Savannah Hotel on
25th April 2008, has been the saviour of Barbados, even
though there may be some among us who have made
calls from their ivory towers for the widespread slashing
of public sector jobs, knowing quite well that this would
have been matched two for one in the private sector.
The Executive Council is pleased to report yet again that
Government has led the way in its own job retention
programmes. The Barbados Private Sector Association
also played its part manfully and succeeded in helping
to keep down the level of layoffs. Much more was required, however, and Senator Sir Roy Trotman and Senator Geoffrey Cave sought an audience with the Prime
Minister, the Honourable Freundel Stuart and with Minister D’Arcy Boyce. Out of that initiative brokered by the
Barbados Workers’ Union, the Prime Minister proposed,
and the Social Partners agreed, to the setting up of three
working committees charged with certain very specific
responsibilities.
These committees are:
1. The Social Safety Net Working Group, chaired by
Brother Cedric Murrell, President of CTUSAB, and
co-chaired by Dr. The Hon. Esther Byer-Suckoo,
Minister of Labour and Social Security. It examines
issues relating to the State’s social programmes,
placement and opportunities under the National
Employment Bureau’s programmes, and the national training and retraining programmes and makes
3. The Growth Working Group, chaired by Mr. John
Williams and co-chaired by The Hon. Richard Sealy.
This committee has focused on job creation, foreign
exchange generation, capacity-building in the sectors identified as potential growth areas, namely,
international business, tourism, construction, agriculture and energy, and on strategies which could
increase Government’s revenues. Some action has
been given to effect this group’s work in the 2012
Budget where incentives for renewable energy and
rates in the International Business sector have been
addressed.
Other areas that were considered were expediting Barbados’ efforts to be listed on the London Stock Exchange,
legal strengthening as well as public education as to the
respective consequences and hazards associated with
praedial larceny, tourism promotion especially via the
use of the social media and the establishment of an internship programme aimed at youth employment.
While there is every reason for praising the Social Partnership ideals which gave rise to the decision to cut jobs
only as a last resort, this Report must record that for
some companies that stage was reached during this year
under review. Some companies, however, remained true
to the spirit of the Protocols governing the country’s Tripartite Social Partnership relationship. They are to be
commended.
On the other hand, there are some others which denied
themselves an excellent opportunity to demonstrate that
they do not derive any special satisfaction from seeing
workers being driven into the harsh arms of unemployment.
The biggest single incidence of layoff came from Almond
Resorts Limited. This subsidiary of the Caribbean conglomerate, Neal and Massy, reached a decision to close
the doors of one of its three Barbados-based hotel plants.
Even though Barbados Shipping and Trading Company
Limited has been a major player in the framing of the
Social Partnership, that Company’s parent body did
not apply the terms of the Protocol, particularly Section
6.13 where it is agreed that “where it is perceived in an
undertaking that there has to be, for whatever reason,
a reduction in the work force or major payroll reductions, the relevant union or staff association, or where
no such body exists then the workers themselves, shall
be so informed in writing at least two (2) weeks prior to
the statutory notice period; in all instances where major payroll reductions are being considered consequent
upon significant changes in production, programme,
organisation, structure, technology or otherwise in an
undertaking, the reasons for the proposed terminations
shall be discussed with the relevant union or staff association, and where there is no such body, the workers themselves, prior to the implementation of any such
changes; any such consultation shall include consideration of ways of avoiding the dismissals, reducing the
number of employees to be dismissed and mitigating
the consequences of the dismissals; if after the required
consultation, retrenchment is unavoidable, then the termination of employees shall be based on the principle
of “last in-first out”, so that an employee with seniority
in service shall have precedence over an employee with
seniority in the particular job category of the bargaining
unit (where applicable) in which the terminations will
occur, provided, however, that there may be a variation
of the principle in cases where there is just reason for
terminating an employee with seniority in service.”
Farewell To Comrade Morris
This year the Executive Council records with appreciation the service of His Excellency, The Honourable
Robert L. Morris C.H.B., and Barbados’ Ambassador to
CARICOM.
Comrade Morris joined the staff of the B.W.U. in 1981,
coming from the position of President of the Division of
the Barbados Community College. He was recommended to Sir Frank Walcott by Sir Roy Trotman who had
been a couple years his senior at the Foundation Boys’
School and who had a sound awareness of his many
skills and attributes.
Comrade Morris, from his first day working, initially as
Personal Assistant to the General Secretary, impressed
everyone with his indefatigable pursuit of whatever objectives he set himself. He was, Council corrects that to
say, “he is”, a passionate defender of Human Rights and
of Trade Union Rights and is fearless in that defence.
He took on the role briefly as Principal of the B.W.U. Labour College, when Comrade Evelyn Greaves was made
a Minister of Government. Later, when Sir Roy was
elected General Secretary, he was appointed Director of
Organising and became the Union’s lead Industrial Relations Negotiator. He honed his skill in that area and, as
a result, is considered as one of the foremost trade union
spokespersons in the region.
To bring balance to the Report, it must be said that, following an appropriate challenge by the Barbados Workers’ Union, the lead spokesperson for Neal and Massy
did apologise for the breach and has been undertaking
to keep faith with the spirit of the Protocol in the Company’s efforts to dispose of the property which Barbados
now calls Heywoods because of its location. It is also
being fully cooperative in discussion on the sale of the
second of the Almond Resorts, this one at Holetown.
In approaching the overall layoff question the government made itself praiseworthy for its positive response
to the ILO’s global call for a social protection floor which
is intended to ensure that there would be a governmentappointed floor below which citizens would not be allowed to fall. This initiative has extended unemployment benefits from 26 weeks on a claim to 40 weeks on
that claim. Because the recovery process is still eluding
several of the country’s planned programmes for national recovery, those extra fourteen (14) weeks are proving
to be quite welcome.
BWU President General, Comrade Linda Brooks presents Comrade Robert
Morris with a gift on behalf of the Executive Council of the Barbados
Workers’ Union. From (l-r) are: BWU Treasurer Comrade Washbrook
Bayne, Sir Roy Trotman and BWU Human Resource Manager, Comrade
Evette Gibson.
The Executive Council was pleased to note that those
skills were recognised by the Stuart Administration and
Council was honoured to grant him early release to permit him to serve this country at ambassadorial level.
The Executive Council is proud of his work as it has
been recorded so far, and wishes him success in this new
chapter of his life.
Industrial Relations Outlook for 2012
The negotiating environment is expected to be difficult
again this year, especially since growth in the economy
is projected to be 1 percent. Negotiators will be forced,
as they were during the past year, to focus on minimising the harsh consequences experienced when companies’ efforts to reduce losses, or in the minority of cases,
maximise profits, directly impact their financial wellbeing.
For the most part, reason has prevailed; the Executive
Council’s efforts not to exacerbate an already tenuous situation, have resulted in moderate increases which have
averaged 3% per annum. Efforts have been focussed on
balancing the tension between maintaining job security
and the need for improvements in compensation levels
in the face of rising inflation: all this against a backdrop
of ensuring that whatever is ventured, is sustainable.
The balancing act of maintaining jobs while improving
the quality of those jobs has been a central feature of the
Union’s negotiators’ work. Lower than desired domestic demand for products and services has caused companies to reduce work hours in some instances and, in
others, has served to motivate attempts at flexibilisation
of labour. There have been reports of much consideration of introducing temporary short-term contracts of
employment, which can easily become a mechanism of
precarious employment. The Barbados Workers’ Union
remains vigilant and will endeavour to stamp out any
notion of precarious employment disguised as flexible
work arrangements.
Despite the commitments by the Government and the
private sector to retain jobs wherever possible, and the
use of legitimate flexible arrangements, unemployment
rose steadily over the period finally ending at an average 11.2% for 2011, increasing marginally to 11.8% as
at March 2012. Losses in 2011 were registered mainly
in manufacturing, finance and professional services. For
the first quarter of 2012 losses were recorded in tourism, manufacturing and non-sugar agriculture.
Although not one which has experienced the largest job
losses, the construction sector remains depressed, with
no major projects that may reasonably be expected to
yield new jobs in the near or medium term, on the horizon. The promised restart of the Four Seasons and Merricks projects, and the start of Pickerings, Batts Rock,
Cost-U-Less, Apes Hill, Foul Bay and the Banyan Tree
Resort at St Peter still appear to be beyond the horizon.
The point must be emphasised that, in a small country
like Barbados where persons who lose their jobs cannot,
like those in large countries, pack their belongings and
relocate to a state where the prospects are better, the
trade union movement must be the responsible caretaker, stressing job retention and ensuring that what work
is available is of a quality that is decent and allows one
at least a living wage.
However, the trade union’s efforts are limited in that the
Union neither sets nor controls prices. During the period there were several publicly-made complaints about
inflation, which reached 9.4% in December 2011. With
oil prices increasing by an average 36%, more money
was spent on oil despite our buying a smaller quantity,
underscoring the need for an effective policy thrust into
alternative energy solutions.
Some high commodity prices were also brought about
by “abuses of dominance” according to the Fair Trading Commission, which, after conducting investigations
in the Construction, Telecommunications, Automotive,
Food Distribution and Oil Manufacturing industries,
discovered instances of discriminatory pricing. The Executive Council of the Barbados Workers’ Union supports the efforts of the Fair Trading Commission to prevent these anti-competitive, unfair practices and urges
the Commission to move speedily to address other such
issues as they arise.
In this year under review, the Executive Council has had
the fortune of being able to examine the Union’s own
policy advice to the Barbados Community against the
stances and protestations of other interest groups especially as this has had to do with the steering of the national economy.
With a national election virtually around the corner, the
Council will wish as much as possible to steer clear of
deliberately partisan comment. The Executive Council
will not, however, be cowed into keeping silent in those
areas where economists and political hopefuls seek to
have the Government and, as a consequence, the cooperating private sector abandon the Barbados Tripartite
Social Compact geared to preserving our society.
The B.W.U. has consistently argued that the dampening
of demand may work in other communities but may not
be used as a Barbados solution. The purchasing power of
our community must be enhanced since it will lead directly to consumer spending in areas which will see jobs
being maintained and new ones created. The B.W.U.
supports the provision of the 2012 Statement of Financial and Budgetary Proposals which sees an increased
tax credit providing for greater discretionary spending
which will take place. This comes on the heels of an increase in the minimum wage for Shop Assistants.
It is well known that the B.W.U. is not satisfied with
the $250.00 which is the new minimum rate for a fortyhour week. The B.W.U. considers this to be an interim
arrangement and the Council will insist that the Administration honours its promise to make a further adjustment.
The Executive Council is pleased to note efforts being
made to stimulate domestic and international business
and to make them more efficient. With direct reference
to International Business, the B.W.U. considers, however, that Messrs Ernst and Young are sound in their
assessment that “the proposed amendments should increase the attractiveness of Barbados as a jurisdiction for
conducting international business.” However, experience has shown that tax incentives alone are not enough;
“Government also needs to put an end to bureaucratic
obstacles to doing business in Barbados and to create
a service-friendly environment to attract major foreign
investment and generate revenue for Barbados.”
The removal of obstacles and the building of a better
business-friendly environment are areas where the Executive Council considers that greater expansionary work
is required. The B.W.U. considers that the heightened
level of competition will tilt the balance further in favour
of quality of service delivery. Although it is not part of
the Union’s original mandate, the B.W.U. continues to
spend significantly in this area of worker development
recognising that inconsistency in service has moved
from being viewed as a mere weakness and is now seen
as a threat to Barbados’ competitiveness, growth and
prosperity. What is needed is a standard that is excellent when compared to international standards but commonplace in application.
The Union hopes that those areas in the Budget Debate
which addressed this issue will be collated, analysed and
acted upon by all the stakeholders without undue delay.
On the other hand, the B.W.U. must indicate here its
position regarding what seems to be a coalescing of public policy on the use of National Insurance funds. The
B.W.U. considers it necessary to repeat that these funds
are workers’ money contributed by workers themselves
with matching amounts from their employers. It must be
proper and fitting that the management of those funds
will remain always a matter for the tripartite direction of
the Board rather than for unilateral determination by the
Ministry of Finance.
The Executive Council is supportive of the effort which
has been made to extend the level of relief which Government gives to retired persons, this time through its
land tax rebate. The Union’s membership is pleased with
this, as it is with the VAT exemptions granted.
Finally in the matter of Divestment, the B.W.U. wishes
to repeat the position to which it has held firm ever since
the issue raised its head. While the B.W.U. will agree to
corporatisation, it cannot support wholesale privatisation of its Airport, Seaport or Surface Transport operations. These remain at the pinnacle of the commanding
heights of our economy and, as such, must always be
managed for the welfare of the total society.
The point has to be made once and again and repeated that such views are not expressed merely to capture
the intellectual curiosity of our comrades; their import
should be studied and their interests jointly pursued.
Suffice it to say that the Executive Council concurs with
the economic gurus who are of the view that the economic engines of foreign exchange driven growth for the
medium term are Tourism, International Business and
Financial Services (IBFS), Alternative Energy and Integrated Agriculture; investments which will ensure international competitiveness.
The substitution of alternative energy sources for fossil
fuels as an energy source is the area where Barbados can
make substantial savings in foreign exchange spending.
This Report has already made reference to the money
spent on fossil fuels and the impact of fuel price increases on commodities. The Barbados Workers’ Union supports the major projects being contemplated which include a wind farm, a waste-to-energy plant, and the use
of renewables such as bagasse. The Executive Council is
of the view that, notwithstanding the advances in solar
generation, there needs to be a greater emphasis on use
of solar energy for electricity generation, moving beyond
the popular water heating use.
While there are opportunities available to move the
economy forward in the short to medium term, there are
some internally-driven challenges that, if not managed,
will see Barbados lagging behind the rest of the world,
when the recession recedes, as it must.
Barbadians must embrace a new way of thinking and
there may be a need to encourage consumption of local goods and services. While to promote “Buy Bajan”
may infringe WTO regulations, there must be a method of containing spending on imported goods thereby
reducing the approximate 80 cents out of every dollar
currently spent on imported goods. This may require
greater funding for entrepreneurial pursuits so that the
capacity is there to meet demand, so that these locally
produced products can be made economically, competitively and can be comparative in terms of quality with
the imported ones.
There are those who are of the view that the Executive
Council’s lobbying pertaining to ensuring that Skeete’s
Bay remains available for sea-bathers, fisherfolk and the
public generally, is outside its remit. They do not see
that when once certain actions are allowed without comment, other democratic freedoms may equally be compromised. Indeed, the Executive Council could have
taken the position that it would concentrate its efforts
on the membership of the Union and any class of worker
seeking protection could join and have that privilege.
However, there is an overarching and underlying objective which is to “safeguard and improve the economic
security and social welfare of all workers”.
It should be noted, for example, that although most of
its negotiated rates are higher than minimum wages,
the Executive Council was relentless in its lobbying and
negotiations at the level of the Shops Wages Council.
Persistent efforts have seen the minimum wage for Shop
Assistants increased from $200 per week to $250 effective 1st March 2012. The B.W.U is also eager to have
Government establish a Decent Minimum for Domestic
Workers and to establish a Decent Minimum for Security Guards. In this way the Union will be able to gain
Government support in addressing two areas where labour is mercilessly exploited.
The Executive Council regards the Employment Rights
Act’s passage through Parliament to be proof of its continued efforts to secure workers’ rights in this country at
all levels.
However, the public should be made aware that with
the Act still not proclaimed the workers are experiencing
what may be seen as last ditch efforts by some employers
to subvert the intent of the legislation. In one instance
the Executive Council has been advised that a Christ
Church hotel, Silver Point, has openly refused to meet
at the Labour Department to address the Employment
Rights which the B.W.U. has referred to the Labour Department as part of the process. Silver Point needs to
be brought before the Tribunal and appropriately dealt
with.
In another instance, though not yet ready for formal
reference to the Tribunal, the Executive Council has
clear evidence by its action that one insurance company,
ICBL, formerly a firm model of Decent Work practices,
has apparently received directions, which have allegedly
targeted union members for discriminatory treatment.
What is so far irrefutable is that simple union efforts to
have ICBL remain respectful of the terms of the Collective Agreement are being met by hostility and anti-union
sentiment totally foreign to the Decent Work culture of
Barbados.
It must be borne constantly in mind by members, as
well as by the public at large, that human nature has
not changed; the deadly sins remain virtually the same,
although they may have metamorphosised into deadlier
strains in the field of human interaction. The workers’
champions will continue to find that old efforts will be
used, and new avenues discovered or created to provide
opportunities for the predatory in our communities to
serve their vampire gods.
Members of the G4S Division in the BWU meeting at “Solidarity House”.
For their part, workers must continue to be governed by
the truth that in Barbados anyhow the vampire is closer
to rarity and is not the everyday bird one encounters.
The second truth is that the workers’ strongest defence,
in addition to his trade union solidarity, is in pursuit
of excellence and of the unimpeachable in terms of his
employment relationship.
The Employment Rights Act was passed by Parliament and will come into force by proclamation. It confers new rights on employees, that is, those employed under a contract of service. It does not apply to
self-employed persons or independent contractors.
A contract of employment is thought to exist where, among other things:
(a) there is an obligation on the part of the employee to give personal and exclusive service;
(b) the work is done according to the instructions of the employer, and is subject to the control and direction of
the employer;
(c) the work has continuity, and such continuity creates for the employee an economic dependence upon the employer, without there being any financial risk to the employee;
(d) the work is carried out within fixed hours or at a workplace specified or agreed by the employer;
(e) the work involves the integration of the employee in the organisation of the business, including his subjection
to its policies, procedures and disciplinary matters;
(f) the employee is in receipt of periodic remuneration payable on a stipulated basis, for example, at hourly, weekly
or monthly intervals, and all such payments are subject to statutory deductions;
(g) the employee is entitled to holidays with pay; and
(h) the employee makes no, or only nominal, investment in tools and equipment.
Employees have the right:
1. at the start of employment one must be given a written statement which must contain the name of the employee
and the name and address of the employer; the date when the employment begins or began; the date on which
the employee’s period of continuous employment begins or began (usually the same as the start date but work
with another employer might be included); the job title and the description of the work which the employee is
employed to do; the scale rate or method of calculating remuneration; the pay intervals (for example, weekly);
the normal hours of work; holiday entitlements; sickness and incapacity details and entitlements; pension
scheme details; the period of probation, if any; and notice entitlement (the length of notice which the employee
is obliged to give and entitled to receive in respect of termination of his contract of employment.
If the job is not permanent, the period for which it is meant to last, including any fixed term, must also be
included as well as the expected place of work and address of the employer, any collective agreements affecting
the employment and a note specifying any grievance and disciplinary rules applicable to the employee.
2. whenever salary or wages are paid, to a written statement which must indicate the gross amount of wages;
the amounts of any variable or fixed deductions from that gross amount and the purposes for which these
deductions are made; the net amount of wages payable; the date of payment and the dates of the pay period.
3. to be consulted before being laid off or placed on short time;
4. if dismissed for redundancy, to priority on rehiring in certain circumstances;
5. where employment has ended, to a certificate giving particulars of the employment, including where the
employment ended by dismissal (should the employee so wish), a statement of the reasons why he was dismissed,
the notice period or whether no notice was given; or if the employee is employed under a contract for a fixed
term and that term expires without being renewed under the same contract.
That certificate should also state the period of the employee’s continuous service with the employer; and the capacity in which the employee was employed immediately before the end of the employment;
Proper notice is determined according to the terms of the contract. However, the Employment Rights Act now gives
to the employee a right to a minimum period of notice where that employee has been continuously employed for
one year or more. The notice required varies with the length of service and the pay intervals (i.e. whether, hourly,
daily, weekly, fortnightly or monthly), and is as follows:
Hourly, Daily or Weekly Paid Employees
Length of Service Minimum Notice Period
Less than 2 years
More than 2 years but fewer than 5 years
More than 15 years
1 week
2 weeks
4 weeks
6 weeks
10 weeks
Fortnightly Paid Employees
Length of Service
Less than 5 years
More than 15 years
Minimum Notice Period
2 weeks
4 weeks
6 weeks
10 weeks
Monthly Paid Employees
Length of Service
Less than 10 years
More than 15 years
1 month
1 ½ months
2 ½ months
An employee who has been employed for more than 1 year may terminate his contract as follows:
Pay interval
Hourly, daily, or weekly paid
Fortnightly paid
Monthly paid
1 week’s notice
2 weeks’ notice
1 month’s notice
Where a contract of employment of an employee who has been continuously employed for one year or more
contains a provision for a shorter period of notice than that required as set out above, from the commencement
of the Act it shall be deemed invalid. Either party, however, is not prohibited from giving longer periods of notice
where this is the practice, given the nature and functions of the work, or from waiving the right to notice or from
accepting a payment in lieu of notice.
Any payment in lieu of notice must not be less than the sum, net of any tax or other deductions lawfully made, that
the employee would have been entitled to receive from the employer if the employee had worked throughout the
period of notice instead of opting for payment in lieu.
It should be noted that the Act preserves the right of the employer to dismiss without notice (summary dismissal)
where this can be justified, or by way of constructive dismissal or on any other ground by reason of the conduct of
the other party.
6. the right not to be unfairly dismissed.
The Act establishes a tribunal called the Employment Rights Tribunal for the determination of issues relating to the
new rights, but provides that complaints must first be referred to the Chief Labour Officer for an opportunity for a
settlement to be reached by conciliation.
If a settlement is not reached, the tribunal is given wide powers, subject to an appeal to the Court of Appeal on
questions of law, to determine complaints. These powers include, in appropriate cases, power to award compensation
and power to order reinstatement or re-engagement of an unfairly dismissed employee.
Where a change occurs to any of the provisions mentioned above, the employer must notify the employee of such
changes at the earliest opportunity (and not later than 30 days after the change). Employees not covered by the new
provisions gain the right to receive the new style statement when changes are introduced but only as it relates to
the changes.
Where an employer refuses to give an employee a written statement of particulars of employment, a statement of
changes where applicable, or an itemized pay statement, the employee may make a complaint to the Employment
Rights Tribunal asking it to determine what particulars ought to have been included or referred to in a statement so
as to comply with the requirements of the law.
BWU Deputy General Secretary, Comrade Julian Hunte (r) during negotiations with the Barbados Employers’ Confederation (BEC) Executive Director
Mr. C.A. Walcott and WIBISCO management.
Collective Bargaining
The Executive Council has noted the larger-than-normal
incidences of protracted negotiations seen during the
period. Several of the negotiations which were reported
as outstanding during the last year, remain outstanding,
not because of lack of effort on either part or for lack of
meetings. In fact, in several instances, there have been
more meetings than obtained previously but due to the
economic climate negotiations remain stalled.
Division
Agreement Dates
Settlement Terms
ADM Barbados Mills
1 December 2009 – 30 November
2013
2.5+3+3+3.5%
ALICO
1 January 2012 - 31 December 2014
4+3+2%
B & B Distribution Clerical
1 April 2011 - 31 March 2013
3+4%
Barbados Bottling Company
1 April 2011 - 31 March 2013
3+4%
Barbados Dairy Industries
3+4%
Barbados Police Cooperative Credit Union
1 June 2011 - 31 May 2013
3+3.5%
Barbados Teachers’ Cooperative Credit Union
1 April 2011 - 31 March 2013
3+3%
Barbados Turf Club
1 July 2010 - 30 June 2013
0+4% lumpsum+2%
Bayview Hospital
1 April 2012 - 31 March 2014
4+2%
Berger Paints
1 July 2009 - 30 June 2012
3+2.5+2%
BNOCL
1 April 2011 - 31 March 2013
2+2.5%
Cable and Wireless
1 April 2009 - 31 March 2013
3+3+3+3%
CAPITA formerly CLICO Mortgage and Finance
1 September 2010 - 31 August 2013
2% lumpsum+2.5+3.5%
Caribbean Label Craft
3+3%
City of Bridgetown Cooperative Credit Union
1 July 2011 - 30 June 2013
3+3%
Codrington College
1 August 2011 - 31 July 2013
3+2%
Coles Prntery
1 April 2012 - 31 March 2014
3+3%
Crown Packaging
DHL Barbados
1 April 2012 - 31 March 2014
Drive-a-matic
4+3%
First Citizens Bank, formerly Bank of Butterfield
3.5+3%
Foursquare Rum Distillery
1 October 2011 - 30 September 2013
3+2%
Gales Agro Products
1 August 2011 - 31 July 2013
1+2.5+2.5%
2+2.5% and merit system
Those earning $6.83 - 10%
Those earning more than
6.83 - 2%
Hanschell Inniss
1 April 2011 – 31 March 2013
HIPAC Production
2.5+2.5%
Hotels and Catering
15 December 2010 - 14 December
2012
3%
ICBL
Merit increase+2% and merit increase
KFC Weekly
13 June 2011 - 12 June 2014
2.5+3+3%
Moore Paragon
1 April 2012 - 31 March 2014
5+3.5%
Nation Publishing
1% of annual salary to PICS
and 3%
3+2.5%
Northern Lumber
Peronne Manufacturing
1 February 2011- 31 January 2013
Precision Packaging
1 November 2010 – 31 October 2012
Purity Bakeries
27 April 2011 - 26 April 2014
RBC, formerly RBTT
3+4+3%
Rentokil Initial
1 January 2011 – 31 December 2012
0+2.5%
Republic Bank, formerly Barbados National Bank
1 April 2010 - 31 March 2013
3+3+3.75%
Roberts Manufacturing
1 April 2011 – 31 March 2013
3+2.75%
SBI Distribution
1 April 2011 – 31 March 2013
3.5+3%
Stokes and Bynoe
1 April 2011 – 31 March 2013
Stokes and Bynoe Van Sales
1 April 2011 - 31 March 2013
WIBISCO Monthly and Weekly
1 July 2011 – 30 June 2014
$295 lumpsum +3+3%
3+3%
3+3.5%
2.5+2.5+2.5%
2.5% + 3%
Basic $450+$475
Commission 3.5%
3.5+3.5+3.5%
Negotiations In Progress
Closures and Layoffs
A C Woodhouse
Agro Chemicals
Arawak Weekly
Banks Barbados Breweries
Barbados Conference Services
Barbados Golf Club
Barbados Light and Power Administrative and Clerical
Barbados Lumber Company
Barbados National Oil Company
BNTCL
Barbados Yacht Club
Carlisle Laboratories
Chickmont Foods
CIBC FirstCaribbean Clerical and Managerial
DaCosta Mannings Distribution
DaCosta Mannings Retail
Duty Free Caribbean
ECAF Products
Emerald City and Carlton and A1 Supermarkets
F. W. Woolworth
Facey Commodity, formerly Alamac
Facey Trading
G4S Monthly and Weekly
GCS Ganzee
Garage Group
Global Directories
Goddard Catering Weekly
Government and Statutory Boards
Harris Paints
Hawthorne Daycare
Hinds Transport
Jada Builders
KFC Supervisory
Marshall Trading Limited
MICO Garment
Nature Care Group
Oran Supervisors
Panagraphix
Platinum Systems Inc.
Playfair Limited
Preconco
Roberts Manufacturing Supervisory
Rotherley
Rum Refinery of Mount Gay
SBI Distribution
SOL Barbados
SAGICOR
Waterfront Cafe
West Indies Rum Distillery
The true picture of change of ownership, of layoffs and
of closures has not emerged with the level of clarity to allow for an unequivocal union recording. The Executive
Council can report that there have been several instances where employers have written regarding reduction of
staff, closure of departments or even of restructuring of
businesses.
In Construction and in Tourism such correspondence
has spoken about temporary arrangements; but in Manufacturing and in the Distributive trades the situation
has been more final.
The Executive Council shares the pain of the cut back
with all those companies, workers and management,
who have been inadvertently pushed into this position
by this global scourge which is still causing immeasurable pain and suffering.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Butterfield
On 7th May, 2012 Butterfield Bank Barbados Limited, a
wholly owned subsidiary of the Trinidadian entity Bank
of N.T. Butterfield and Son Limited, was sold by its parent company to Trinidad and Tobago-based FirstCitizens Bank Limited.
Butterfield operations in Barbados commenced in 2003
upon the acquisition of the assets of the Barbados Mutual Bank of the Caribbean Inc., at the time a subsidiary
of the Barbados Mutual Life Assurance Society.
FirstCitizens Bank is wholly owned by the Government
of Trinidad and Tobago and currently employs 1600
staffers. The Bank is unionised in Trinidad and Tobago,
with workers there being represented by the Banking,
Insurance and General Workers’ Union (BIGWU).
FirstCitizens’ acquisition of Butterfield Bank’s, its first
acquisitive expansion outside of Trinidad and Tobago in
full service banking, means that it now has control of assets totalling BDS $617 million and customer deposits of
BDS $540 million, as well as the 114 members of staff.
The Bank has communicated that it anticipates continued cordial and respectful relationships and has committed to keeping the Union involved in every aspect of
the transition process.
Thus far, the Company has indicated to the Union its
intention to replace the Butterfield brand with the FirstCiizens brand but, there are no immediate plans to retrench staff, but rather, to “expand the activities and the
reach of the Barbadian bank by leveraging the ‘know
how’ and expertise of the management and staff”. The
Bank has specifically indicated that there will be a focus
on growth which will provide opportunities for staff.
Sun General
On 10th February 2012, the crisis associated with the
CLICO Group ended for at least one of the companies
in the Group. Sandridge Limited purchased 100% of the
shares of CLICO International General Insurance Limited and took immediate control of the company.
The new entity, Sun General, informed the Executive
Council of its intention to have the current staff complement, as well as their current terms and conditions of
employment, remain unchanged. They however warned
that, given the continuing global recession and its impact on the Company, there may be need in the future
to rationalise operations.
The Company has complied with legal obligations under
‘change of ownership’ as well as the customary industrial
relations practices in the transition process to date. The
B.W.U. has assured the Company’s representatives of its
willingness to continue to be a positive social partner,
assisting wherever necessary in the settling-in exercises.
The Company indicated that there would be some job
losses as a result of the merger but indicated an approach
which was acceptable to the Executive Council that of
seeking, through discussion, to minimise the numbers
by placing suitable persons in vacant positions in other
companies within the Group.
The Company met with the Union’s representatives to
establish a framework for collaboration and partnership
throughout the transition.
RBTT/RBC
While in most instances the transition process has been
smooth and respectful, this has not held true for the
amalgamation of Royal Bank of Canada Barbados, which
remains un-unionised and RBTT Barbados, a B.W.U. division.
In May 2012, the amalgamation of the two entities took
place and they commenced operation under the RBC
Royal Bank brand.
The Company circularised employees informing that:
•
•
Brydens/Tempro/Stokes and Bynoe
On May 11th 2012, the management of Ansa McAl (Barbados) Limited informed the B.W.U. of its intention to
merge the operations of Brydens Distribution, Stokes
and Bynoe and A & R Tempro (1986) Limited.
This merger was another phase in the process of consolidation by the McAl group with the first being the merger
of the Pharmaceutical Division of Brydens Distribution
and Stokes and Bynoe effective 1st January, 2012.
At that time the Company also disclosed that the remaining phases would be the Food and Consumer, and
Wines and Spirits sections at different times but with
an expected completion date of end of July 2012. The
Administrations would be merged last.
•
•
•
Several HR policies had been harmonised including Recruitment, Organisation Design,
Position Evaluation, Performance Enablement,
Talent Management, RBC Performance and
RBC Service Recognition.
Compensation and benefits were harmonised
from January 2012 with base salary scales and
other elements of compensation and benefits to
be revised on an ongoing basis.
There would be no immediate branch closures
but over time, operational efficiencies may necessitate some job losses. However there were
plans to open new operations which could see
the creation of new roles.
The B.W.U. would have to show that it represented 50% +1 of the amalgamated numbers of
workers in order for the Bank to acknowledge it
as the workers’ representative.
The Collective Agreement did not extend past
the amalgamation date but all negotiated increases and retroactive payments were paid.
The Executive Council plans to raise the matter at the
level of the Social Partnership to forestall any industrial
fallout at this time.
Divisional Reports
Barbados Port Inc.
During the period under review, the Barbados Workers’ Union and the Barbados Port Inc. continued their
efforts to modernise and transform the Port in a sustainable way by improving efficiency and competiveness.
One major initiative undertaken was a complete review
of the organisation geared, among other things, at assessing job functions and levels within the structure and
comparing them to the market. This ongoing exercise is
being undertaken with the cooperation of the Caribbean
Maritime Training Institute (CMI).
A part of the review process was the conducting of a
Job Evaluation of all jobs in the bargaining unit, carried
out with the help of four (4) committees; namely, the
Review committee, the Scoring Committee, the Ranking Committee and the Appeals Committee. Each committee comprised equal numbers of representatives of
management and of workers. The Review committee is
responsible for reviewing the job descriptions and ensuring that all major job functions are accurately represented in the documents; the Scoring Committee takes
those job descriptions and apply a score to each aspect
based on the Job Evaluation Guidelines prepared by
the consultants, CMI. Those scores are then placed in a
ranking order by the Job Evaluation Ranking Committee. The Appeals Committee will hear objections from
any worker about any part of the system and make a
ruling. The workers are fully supportive of the exercise
which was agreed during the negotiation process.
Training continued to be prominent in the drive for efficiency and professionalism. Substantial investment has
been made in capacity building through the implementation of training programmes undertaken with the assistance of, and in partnership with, training institutions
both locally and regionally. As part of the process:
a. Six cadets entered a three-year programme at the
Caribbean Maritime Training Institute in Jamaica to
undergo nautical training as part of the requirement
necessary to become marine pilots and/or engineers.
b. Training for Dockers in Stevedoring Operations
Foundational Skills - Level 1 of the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) certification will commence shortly.
c. Foremen have been trained in Stevedoring Operations Skills - CVQ Level 3.
d. Workshop personnel are being trained at various
levels in keeping with an agreement for a multiskilled workforce.
e. Crane Operators have undergone simulator training
f. Clerical Officers have been trained on the Klein Port
Management System, which is a cargo recording system.
g. Linesmen and Seamen have completed training in
basic seamanship.
h. Security Officers have received training in Advanced
Port Security; Incident Command; Contingency
Planning and Exercise; Advance Port Facility Office
Training; Women in Law Enforcement Training and
Hazwopper (Hazardous Training).
Negotiations are continuing and discussions are taking
place on streamlining policies and procedures in some
critical areas. These include Home Porting; Health and
Safety; Handling Accidents, Injuries and Illnesses on the
Job and Crane Operations.
Hotels
The period under review was particularly challenging
for the B.W.U. in the Hotel industry. The Union had to
grapple with some negative effects resulting from strategies embraced by some players to deal with the fallout
from the world’s worst financial and economic crisis. At
the same time, it had to meet the needs of the workers
for a wage increase to help them to cope with the constantly increasing prices of food and other necessities.
Negotiating an increase in wages and salaries was therefore not an easy task.
The initial response from the BHTA to the proposals
submitted by the Union was for a lump sum payment for
the period 15th December 2010 - 14th December 2012.
The Union was not agreeable, but was in fact adamant
that the workers should have an increase after having
granted the industry a moratorium for the period 2009
-2010.
The Union also disagreed with the BHTA’s proposal for
a settlement of one kind with B.H.T.A’s members who
BWU General Secretary, Senator Sir Roy Trotman (center in white shirt) meets with striking Cable and Wireless workers.
were ready to pay and individual agreements with those
who wanted to avoid paying. The B.W.U. was able finally to arrive at an agreement for a 3% increase across
the board to cover the period 15th December 2010 to
14th December 2012. This stage was not reached until
the Union referred the matter to Minister Byer-Suckoo,
Minister of Labour.
After having made no significant movement in the discussions at domestic level, the discussions were referred
to the Labour Department and then to the Minister of
Labour where the parties finally reached a resolution of
3% increase across the board for the period 15th December 2010 - 14th December 2012.
Despite challenges associated with payment of retroactive monies, most workers were able to receive their retroactive pay as one lump sum or in a series of payments
by 30th April 2012. There were a few instances where
some properties, by agreement with the Union, paid in
smaller tranches that stretched over a longer period.
As part of the negotiations, the Union sought to bring
closure to discussions on the definition of “Supervisor”
which stretched as far back as 2007 when the matter
was referred to the ILO for an interpretation, but which
had not been concluded at the local level even though
the ILO submitted a report on the issue.
The Union also raised its concerns with the increasing
number of instances of deviations from the disciplinary
provision in the Collective Agreement. The BHTA promised to provide greater guidance and assistance to Human Resources Executives in the industry who may not
understand the intent of the clauses in the Agreement.
Cable and Wireless (B’dos)
The relationship between Cable and Wireless Barbados Ltd. and the Barbados Workers’ Union continued
to show a negative profile. During the year under review, the Executive Council had to refer the matter of
the outstanding negotiations between the two sides, not
merely to the Labour Department, but beyond that institution to the Minister of Labour, and subsequently to
the level of the Prime Minister. On 27th March 2012,
a meeting was held at the level of the Prime Minister
and after several hours of meeting, an agreement was
eventually arrived at, providing exceptionally for a four
year agreement because by the date 27 March, the two
parties were at the end of the three-year session which
had been the agreed period for the collective agreement.
It was recognised that it did not make sense for the two
parties immediately to commence negotiations for another agreement. The agreement period was therefore
extended and expires 31st March 2013. That agreement
allowed for a 12% increase, divided, 3% in year one,
compounded in years two, three and four by 3% as well.
A contentious issue was that the company sought to
convey the impression that there had been agreement
to a flexible work structure allowing staffers to work any
five days of seven. The parties had to ask the Prime Minister to indicate his understanding of the status of the
matter. He concurred with the Union that the parties
had not in fact arrived at an agreement for that level of
flexibilisation.
Another source of difficulty lay in the fact that, after
several years of undergoing a Job Evaluation exercise,
it remained unfinished and, although the parties had
discussed at length the consultancy company’s report,
Cable and Wireless, at the last moment, was seeking to
have changes made in that report that would reduce the
level of the impact of a positive nature for the workers.
That matter is with the Chief Labour Officer and, as this
report is being prepared, meetings are being arranged in
an effort to find a suitable resolution to this vexatious
issue.
Regrettably even before the parties signed the new
agreement, Cable and Wireless embarked on another
initiative which posed tremendous challenges for the
B.W.U. and the staff of Cable and Wireless. Although
the practice has been established that all layoffs be the
subject of consultation with the Union before individual
approaches are made to workers, the company on this
occasion, broke with what is the norm and issued invitations for workers to enter into a new initiative for early
separation from the company. The proposed structure
has not had the benefit of Social Dialogue, and does not
contain any provisions that would suggest meaningful
concern for the welfare of the workforce.
The Barbados Workers’ Union Executive Council is
aware that a similar proposal is in the hands of almost
every Cable and Wireless worker in the region. The
Union interprets this as an effort to reduce staff without
dialogue and has written to the company demanding
discussions.
What is very clear to the Executive Council is that Cable
and Wireless Barbados Ltd. is now fully under the control of interests which are not necessarily parallel with,
or similar to, the interest of Barbados. It is anticipated
that the stresses of the past 4 years will continue into the
foreseeable future.
Barbados Light and Power Co. Ltd.
The Barbados Workers’ Union and the Barbados Light
and Power Co. Ltd have agreed to work toward amalgamation of the two collective agreements that cover the
Hourly and Weekly paid employees, Technicians, Technical Assistants and Meter Readers (The Operations Division) and the Administrative and Support Group at the
company. The first step in the process was to have the
same effective and expiry dates for the two agreements.
To achieve this, it was agreed that an 18-month agreement would be negotiated for the Operations Division to
have that agreement expire on the 31st December 2011,
the date on which the agreement for the Administrative
and Support Group expired.
Discussions to effect that agreement began at domestic level but regrettably reached a stalemate and were
referred to the Labour Department. After a number of
meetings at that level without resolution, the discussions
were referred to the Minister of Labour, under whose
chairmanship agreement was finally reached.
That agreement gave Hourly and Weekly paid employees, Technicians, Technical Assistants and Meter Readers an increase of 3.75% in wages and salaries. They also
received a lump-sum payment of approximately 0.7%,
which represented the value of the group life insurance
that was agreed but was not implemented by the time
the settlement on wages and salaries was arrived at.
Since that agreement could not be implemented retroactively the value of the item was distributed among the
workers.
Other areas of that agreement were:
1. 5 days’ Paternity Leave
2. Service Drop Crew Leaders to be issued with
mobile telephones
3. Ongoing discussions on salarisation
Almost immediately following the conclusion of those
negotiations the two parties began discussions to align
the two collective agreements which have an effective
date of 1st January 2012. The main aim of the discussions was to synchronise the conditions in the two
agreements. On the company’s part, however, it was
working on improving efficiencies and reducing costs.
To this end its proposals included:
• flexible workweek
• shift system for overhauling and maintenance
work
• A pilot project for carrying out overhauls on a
job work basis.
All discussions with the Barbados Light and Power Co.
Ltd. since May 2010 took place in a new context of negotiations since for the first time the Barbados Workers’
Union is negotiating with a Barbados Light and Power
Co. that is not majority owned by Barbadian shareholders.
Emera Inc, a Canadian power company, which previously held minority shareholdings in Light and Power
Holdings Ltd, the parent company of Barbados Light
and Power Ltd., in 2010 acquired additional common
shares to give it 79% ownership of the company thereby making BL&P Holdings part of the Emera Group of
Companies.
As majority shareholder, it has been implementing a
number of the Group’s policies and procedures in the
local company. Two areas which are of particular interest are:
1. The annual employee survey, “Gauging Our Success” is undertaken every October throughout Emera
group of companies. The employees are urged to
complete a questionnaire giving their opinion on
how the business is operating. The results are then
used by management in the action planning exercise
which follows. This is Emera’s effort to engage and
involve the employees in the company’s success.
2. Emera’s Standards for Business Conduct are guidelines which outline the minimum standards expected from all employees, directors and officers of
Emera Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates. Through
them, the company encourages all those working on
its behalf to comply with all laws and regulations
and to act in a manner that sustains a business culture of ethical conduct. It also encourages among
other things:
a. Open and honest communication in
the work place.
b. Respect for everyone and for the environment
c. Fairness and honesty in business relationships
d. Observation of safety at work.
High oil prices have a direct impact on the cost of electricity as this cost is passed on to the customers by way
of the fuel charge. This has caused significant hardship on both domestic and commercial customers and
as a result, they are taking action to reduce their costs.
Wherever possible, consumption is being reduced with
some commercial entities using alternative sources of
energy. All this has impacted on the company and has
influenced its decision to pursue measures that would
improve efficiencies and reduce costs.
In this latter case, the B.W.U. has made it clear that the
guidelines contain some elements unacceptable to Barbados. Discussions will be held in due course to have
those matters of concern resolved.
Sugar Industry
Sugar’s importance to Barbados must be viewed completely differently from the historic picture. After all,
fifty years ago the country engaged directly and indirectly more than 30,000 persons. Today, sugar employs
a mere three (3) percent of the national workforce and
contributes a mere one percent to the country’s Gross
Domestic Product [GDP]. And yet, sugar remains critical to Barbados’ macro-economic policy, notwithstanding the fact that it contributes a mere 0.4% of foreign
exchange earnings.
In spite of the declining economic contribution of sugar,
the Executive Council disagrees with those who would
recommend that sugar production be discontinued and
that the land currently under cultivation be used for
housing, recreation and other suggested purposes. Rather, the Executive Council is of the view that the recently
concluded comprehensive study of the industry, which
recommends transformation of the industry by way of
diversification, should be implemented.
The Executive Council, through a formal resolution of a
recent Annual Delegates’ Conference, reiterated its continued call for the implementation of a land use policy
which will ensure that an adequate quantity of arable
land is retained for food production, thereby ensuring a
level of food security and protecting the soil from environmental degradation factors such as erosion.
Construction Sector
In the period under review construction was the main
driver of economic growth owing to expansions by
4.4%, with job growth of 1.1%. Construction was expected to be the main driver of economic activity in
2012 through the erection of tourism facilities and Government’s housing initiatives.
In the 2011 Budgetary Statements, the Government, in
furtherance of its view that in order to restore growth
in the economy in the short term there needed to be a
strong resurgence in construction, laid out a programme
for increased government investments in housing and
road rehabilitation to help generate and increase activity
in the construction sector and provide for job growth.
However, in 2011 and into 2012, both the private and
public sector projects have been slow to start and/or reduced in scope. The Construction sector is further challenged by increasing costs of raw materials, namely steel
and cement.
There have been average increases of 2.5% per year in
the sector. However, there have also been several instances of layoffs due to lack of work. In some areas,
negotiations have been protracted as the parties have
sought to come to an agreement which would be satisfactory to all.
Barbados Water Authority
The B.W.A Division has emerged today as one of the
most active divisions in the Union in terms of numbers
but more so in terms of activities which the Division
pursues for the overall upliftment of its current membership as well as its retirees.
The Executive Council congratulates the Division’s
Committee of Management and the wider membership
for their success in establishing a contributory Medicare
plan, registered with Messrs Guardian Life since the last
Annual Delegates’ Conference.
It took several years before the Committee and the
Union Secretariat, working together with various B.W.A.
Boards of Management were able to launch the MEDICARE plan on 9th November 2011.
Writing to the General Manager (Ag.) on the occasion
the General Secretary stated, “The B.W.U. is of the view
that, coming at this time, the launch has been a tremendous morale booster which has generated goodwill at all
levels of the B.W.A.” The Executive Council is pleased
to note that the level of sign-ups from the very outset
was commendable and that additional sign-ons have
taken place since November to make this plan one of
the best subscribed plans before the compulsory phase
is reached which will involve new employees.
The Council is also aware that this launch could properly be described as the only bright spot in the relationship
under review. The quality of the relationship has been
preserved by the excellent ring-craft of the newly reappointed Industrial Relations Consultant Mr. Mitchell
Codrington, who has endeavoured to re-establish some
focus to the labour management environment which
seemed to have disappeared with the exit of the Executive Chairman.
Even so, the Executive Council is forced to report that
there have been too many outstanding issues which the
Administration at B.W.A. has sought to sweep into the
proverbial corner in the hope that they would go away.
Those matters are being addressed – too slowly for the
Union, but being addressed nonetheless. What is of
much graver import to the Division and to the country
as a whole has been the approach of the Board to the
Barbados Water Authority’s much touted Rehabilitation
Programme.
As far back in time as 2009 the Barbados Workers’
Union (B.W.A. Division) was asked to share a plan for a
comprehensive water rehabilitation upgrade and expansion. The B.W.U., noting that this appeared to be a plan
for the country’s sustainable development, immediately
undertook to support it in principle, provided that the
details were fully explained to the Division, and provided further that the Division was not being requested to
surrender its rights or benefits. That assurance was given
as far back as June 2009 when the late Prime Minister
unveiled his government’s plan to the Barbados Water
Authority’s general body.
From June 2009 until the date of the preparation of this
Report the General Secretary of the B.W.U. has been trying without success to have the Water Authority share in
the plan and to show the role which the current B.W.A.
staff would play in the programme.
The Annual Delegates’ Conference approaches; more
than ever Barbados understands the import of the
Rio+20 relating to saving the country’s environment; the
B.W.U. however still stands, impatiently awaiting sight
of this Barbados Water Authority Master Plan for the
Water Resuscitation and Rehabilitation of Barbados.
The word which has made the rounds is that the Union
has rejected the plan. Fortunately the Supervisory Minister knows differently. With the aid of his Industrial
Relations Consultant, the Minister brokered a meeting
on Sunday 20th May 2012. On that day he instructed
the Water Authority to prepare a plan of action and a
proposal which the workers would study and discuss
without delay. At the time of preparation of this Report,
no plan and no proposal has come forward.
The Executive Council needs to underscore the point
that the B.W.U. does not yield first place for patriotism
to anyone. This Union will work assiduously to secure
the greatest good for the greatest number. The B.W.U.
will work with whoever will help it to build a better Barbados.
Almond Resorts Inc.
At the beginning of calendar year 2012, the Management
of Almond Resorts Inc. met with the Union Secretariat
and indicated that almond was facing a financial crisis
which especially affected the Heywoods plant, “The Village”, but which might also affect “The Club”, Holetown
and “Casuarina”, Dover.
Following the closure of the Almond Village the spotlight has shifted to the Club at Holetown. Discussions
have begun with the sellers, Almond Resorts Inc. and
with the purchasers, Fair-weather Holding Inc. regarding the nature of the relationship which will be offered
to staff when the sale is completed.
A large portion of staff remain disappointed by the manner in which the first separation took place at the Village. There was, in their view, little if any consideration
for staff as part of the base for the success which Almond
enjoyed. The workers see themselves as discarded work
tools, used and thereafter abandoned. The Holetown
workers will be agitating for a greater level of appreciation by both the old and the new owners.
The Executive Council notes the level of effort which is
being made regarding these three Almond Resort Inc.
hotels. The Council urges the hotel industry in particular to recognise that particularly at this time, there
is need for the workforce to be more conscious of the
work of labour. There will be many who will seek to divide workers and, separately, devalue its individual, and
thus, its group worth. They will succeed if labour chooses to be imperfectly organised and ineffectively united.
Grand Barbados
BWU General Secretary Sir Roy Trotman (second from left) at the negotiations table with Mr. Larry Basham, General Counsel/COO, Elite Island Resort, at BWU headquarters. At right, is Ms. Juliet Potter of Elite Island Resort
and at left is Mr. Monty Cumberbatch of Almond Resorts.
The workers thought that they might be able to pool
worker resources from the hotels, attract other worker
investments, canvas Government support and urge general public support to give broad-based local ownership
to the properties. Before that plan could be effectively
canvassed, however; Neal and Massy Limited, the financial power involved, indicated that such a consideration
was “too little” and “too late”. The Company did not
provide for any consultative process which might have
unearthed new or additional approaches to handling the
crisis and to saving the more than five hundred direct
jobs involved.
The Union was a late entrant into the matter. Its energies
were spent therefore in remedial work, as it were, and in
pursuing the best separation terms possible.
The Executive Council notes with alarm that there is a
movement afoot by some employers to roll back a number of the benefits that the labour movement has defended on behalf of the Barbadian worker. During the
period under review, the Union has had cause to write
to the Severance Payment Tribunal of the National Insurance Department on behalf of workers at the Discovery Bay Hotel and The Grand Barbados Beach Resort. In
both cases the claim was for workers’ right to severance
payment on account of lay-off or short time.
In the case of Grand Barbados Beach Hotel, the situation
has been particularly disconcerting when one recalls the
numerous occasions during the past five (5) years that
employees at that establishment had been sent on lay-off
or short-time for periods just short of that which would
qualify them for this provision under the Act.
The hotel has been closed since May 01, 2011 and most
of the workers have been unemployed since then. As
could be expected, the Management has given notice to
the Secretary of the Tribunal of its intention to resist the
applications for severance which have been submitted.
However, there’s every confidence that the outcome on
behalf of these workers would be as favourable as that
handed down by the tribunal in the case of those persons formerly employed by the Discovery Bay Hotel.
The Executive Council remains alert to other similar attempts to disenfranchise labour.
Silver Point Villa Hotel
An unsettling trending has seemingly crept into the hotel sector which is seeking to destabilise the strides made
by way of the standing collective agreement between the
BHTA and the BWU. The Union, in its efforts to assist
the disenfranchised worker, attempted early in March to
organise this group and bring a level of Decent Work to
Silver Point Villa Hotel. Some of the issues uncovered
during the organising of this group include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Non-payment of Sick Leave
No increase in wages since 2006
No information on how Service Charge is calculated
Poor working conditions in the Kitchen, specifically
the absence of extractor fans or proper air-conditioning units
Incorrect calculation of overtime, vacation and other
payments
Having employees perform functions completely
outside of their stated job function, for example,
where the Security Guard is being asked to assist in
cooking
No rostered break periods
Late payment of wages
Even more alarming is the position adopted by management as it relates to the existing Collective Agreement,
claiming that it had no awareness of the Agreement and
was never apprised of it by the BHTA. The now usual
sight of Attorneys-at-Law appearing is again in evidence
with this Company. However this ought to assist in a
speedy resolution in the issues being treated at this hotel, since the presence of legal officers is duty-bound to
produce greater levels of respect for the law and for the
tenets of DECENT WORK than what was previously
demonstrated.
Transport Board
The Executive Council recognises the vital role which
the Barbados Transport Board plays in the country’s economic, social and cultural development. The Council realises that the crisis has taken its toll on the operation of
this service as it has on almost every other aspect of the
country’s performance. Some routes have been reconfigured and some services have been cut back to provide
greater economies.
The Barbados Workers’ Union wishes to state very clearly however that the Government must not succumb to
the neo-liberal pressures which are clamouring for the
imposition of a commercial rather than a socialised rate
of bus fares. The reality is that all over the world, public
transport is pitched as low as possible to ensure that the
most vulnerable in communities are provided with the
essentials for a decent existence.
The Transport Board has had many challenges springing from the stringency measures imposed by the Board.
However, there are provisions for ongoing bipartite social dialogue at the Board, which permit most issues
which are raised to be addressed without reference to
any third parties.
The leaders of this social interaction on both sides
should be complimented for the respect they give to the
country’s industrial relations customs and practices.
United Commercial Autoworks
Limited [U.C.A.L]
One of those divisions for which the Executive Council
needs to express grave concern is United Commercial
Autoworks Limited. The Company’s major challenge is
that its main client is the Transport Board which delivers
socialised public transport and has to rely on Government subsidies. Transport Board will pay but is always
behind, far behind in payments.
The late payments force U.C.A.L. to pay its social charges late, thereby incurring penalties and late fees. These
in turn send U.C.A.L. to the Bank for special overdraft
accommodation.
The above is compounded by U.C.A.L.’s inability to get
Transport Board to complete negotiations for a new service rate. There is, too, the problem of unsafe working
conditions which the landlord is slow in improving.
Work is however in progress.
BNB
During the period under review Republic Bank moved
to promote its international brand and thus moved to
designating the B.N.B as the Republic Bank of Trinidad
and Tobago, a move intended to position the Bank more
strategically among the banking houses doing business
in the area.
This generation will continue to do business with the
B.N.B. but in time that symbolic name shift will be the
order of the day and Barbados will lose one of the icons
which registered its declaration of nationhood.
The change has not adversely affected the quality of labour management relations. The management and staff
have recently signed a new Collective Agreement in
which every aspect of the machinery for effective social
dialogue was received and found satisfactory.
University of the West Indies
[U.W.I.]
ues to be a cloud hanging over the understanding which
the University Bursar arrived at with the Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Services Commission in the
matter.
The B.W.U. was, in April 2012, given certain assurances
by the Bursar regarding the handling of those pensions.
The University’s assurances were to be reduced to writing by 30 April. The confirmatory information has not
arrived and it has been difficult to make contact. The
Union will however continue its efforts.
Generally the matter of computing gratuities and pensions continues to cause concerns for some divisions.
Chief among them are the B.N.B., the Barbados Port
Inc., and the Barbados Water Authority.
The Executive Council has written to the Financial Services Commission to address the subject of pensions. A
mutually satisfactory date is being arranged for a meeting to deal with the matter.
PRECONCO
During the year under review, the main matter of concern for the staff at the University has been the question
of the superannuation benefits for staff who, for many
years now, have been living under uncertainty regarding
how and when after retirement they would receive their
pension benefits.
The matter reared its head at the beginning of the century; it was addressed quietly and many workers who
had otherwise threatened to retire early were coaxed
into remaining in service. Now however the efforts to
implement the new pension regulations have been reengaged much to the distress of U.W.I. staff.
On the one hand it seems quite clear that the workers
are legally protected from any regulation which would
result in the loss of an acquired benefit; yet there contin-
The entire membership paused to grieve with the Management, staff and relatives of Brother Terrance Clarke,
who on Thursday, 5th April 2012, lost his life on the job
at Lears, St. Michael.
The loss brings home so very clearly the ever-present
challenges posed by machinery at the workplace.
The B.W.U. does not apportion any blame on anyone
here; but it nonetheless urges everyone, everywhere to
exercise total respect for all safety and health rules and
regulations.
The B.W.U. has been delayed in its efforts to have discussions over long outstanding issues involving the welfare of staff. The Council looks forward to meaningful
dialogue with the senior directorate of the company.
“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”
— Mother Teresa
Chapter 3
FINANCE AND
HOUSING
THIS REPORT COVERS THE accounting period 1st January 2011 to 31st December 2011.
During the period of the refurbishment, programmes at
the College were somewhat curtailed and this was reflected in the numbers in some areas, for example, takings from rentals. However the activity at the Computer
School which operates under the aegis of the Labour
College but operates from “Solidarity House” remained
vibrant.
During the period 1,372 new members were recruited
representing a small improvement on the previous year
when 1,316 new members were recruited. Members’
contributions recorded during the period amounted to
$5,043,332. This represents a decline of $105,777 or by
2% over the previous year when contributions recorded
totalled $5,149,109. This represents a decline of 339
members during the review period. This also represents
the third consecutive year of decline in revenue levels. It
means that the Union effectively operated at 2008 revenue levels during the period under review.
These difficult operating circumstances have been occasioned by the ongoing economic recession that has been
impacting the operational efficiencies of all sectors of
the economy but particularly the hotel and construction
sectors. The Executive Council, through its Finance and
General Purposes Committee, has been carefully monitoring expenditures so as to ensure the viability of the
Union in these difficult times.
During the period under review major works were carried out at the Labour College at Mangrove, St. Philip,
totalling some $670,148.00. The scope of the works included the demolition of the old roof of the administrative block and in the teaching block, and their replacement. The area received an electrical upgrade; tiles were
replaced in the library and the administrative offices.
The occasion was also taken to construct a washroom
facility for the disabled in an area close to the Auditorium; upgrade work was carried out to the laundry,
kitchenette and the housekeeper’s quarters; the shelving
in the library was renewed and the library and lecture
rooms outfitted with wireless internet connectivity. The
dormitory rooms also have internet connectivity. These
measures will make the Labour College more marketable and hopefully bring new revenue streams into the
Union. The works were carried out by CS Construction
Ltd and the Executive Council would like to record its
thanks to Comrade Colin Small and his team for the
quality of their work.
During the period the Union continued its support of
the former Royal Shop workers with an expenditure of
$41,600. The number of persons receiving support was
reduced over time and numbered a mere four persons
when the assistance came to an end in April 2012.
The consideration of the Financial Statements to 31st
December 2011 which includes a Statement of Receipts
and Payments for the period 1st January 2011 to 31st December 2011, is a separate item on the agenda of the
Conference.
HOUSING
During the period under review there has been little
progress with respect to the joint development of 26
housing solutions in association with Beautiful Environmental Homes. During the period only one (1) housing
unit is nearing completion.
The project consists of four house types: Option 1 consists of a 700 sq. ft. 2 bedroom, one bathroom house;
Option 2 consists of a 800 sq. ft. 3 bedroom, one bathroom house; Option 3 consists of a 900 sq. ft. 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house and Option 4 consists of a 750
sq. ft. 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house. The agreement
between the union and the builder set the construction
cost for the above options at $159.00 per sq. ft and the
cost of the land at $12.00 per sq. ft. The average lot size
is approximately 4,000 sq. ft.
As previously reported some eight housing units had
been started but little progress has been made due to
poor capitalisation of the project by the contractor. The
union is responsible for all the infrastructural works:
construction of roads, water installation, electrical installation etc. However, the arrangements for construction
were made by individual contracts between the prospecTHE 71st ANNUAL REPORT ‘11 - ‘12 | 29
tive homeowners and Messrs Beautiful Environmental
Homes Limited.
Mangrove “Norstar” Project: The Executive Council
has no report with regard to the Norstar Project as this
matter is still before the courts.
The Executive Council has been bitterly disappointed by
the failure of the prospective owners and the contractors
to complete the housing solutions. The delay is having
adverse effects on the Union regarding its returns on the
infrastructural development work that was conducted.
Officials of the Barbados Workers’ Union and the National Conservation Commission (NCC) along with NCC Staff, admire the beautification
work at the BWU Labour College.
“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant.”
— Robert Louis Stevenson.
Chapter 4
EDUCATION
Labour College
and Leadership Development. These are offered at levels
1 and 2 in order to accommodate at level 1, the learning
of theory and at level 2, the preparation and implementation of the action programmes. Seminars, workshops
and panel discussions are included in the programme
providing variety in the mode of delivery. Additionally,
members have greater access to the programme since
some of the obstacles, with regard to time, have been
stripped away.
DURING THE YEAR UNDER review, the aim of the
B.W.U. was to bring a holistic Labour Education experience to the Barbados Workers’ Union Labour College. In
so doing, the Labour College continued to offer quality
education and training programmes while at the same
time, undertaking to implement several major changes.
In the area of its education and training programming,
the Labour College offered to its membership a selection of topics that potentially covered all of the areas
that can impact them as workers, individuals, consumers, activists and negotiators. The programme aimed
therefore to encourage members in their own personal
journey of lifelong learning while contributing to the basic elements of human and trade union development.
Core courses targeted the promotion of trade union involvement and provided training in the areas of conflict
resolution, communication, knowledge and recognition
of compliance or non-compliance with international labour standards and workers’ contribution to a safe and
healthy work environment. The Labour College sought
also to assist members in developing their capabilities to
make positive choices in an ever changing global environment. Participants benefitted through the attainment
of leadership skills, computer learning, youth development skills, financial management and awareness of the
importance of social security systems.
The Trade Union Short Courses Programme provides an
opportunity to gain knowledge of a vast array of topics
in just one week with the option of attending only on
the days the topic of interest is being presented. Members are also encouraged to make trade union education
one of their priorities when making their yearly plans,
including during their annual vacations.
Physical Upgrade
During the year under review the enhancement of the
environs of the Labour College continued. In collaboration with the National Conservation Commission the
entrance of the Labour College was transformed. Preparation for signage has been completed and a variety of
flora now greets the visitor as he/she enters the premises
and heads toward the entrance. The gardens include
The Labour College continues to provide that avenue for
workers at different levels of their careers and at different stages of trade union involvement to come together
to actively learn and to participate. Maintaining the underlying theme of solidarity and action, developments
continue in introducing innovative pedagogical approaches, delivery instruments and partnerships, to create new educational programmes, curricula and course
materials. The programme is ultimately guided by the
needs and aspirations of the members and the overall
agenda of the Barbados Workers’ Union.
Programmes focusing on action should see the Union
being even more visible as training programmes culminate in activities geared at public awareness of trade
union issues. Some of these courses are identified as the
Crisis Response Workshop, Organising Campaigns and
Mobilising the Membership and Shop Steward Training
BWU General Secretary Comrade Sir Roy Trotman plants a tree as part of
the environmental upgrade at the Labour College. On his right is Mr. Tyrone
Lowe, Chairman, National Conservation Commission and on his left is Mr.
Keith Neblett, General Manager of the NCC. Also in the picture are members
of the BWU Executive Council and NCC staff.
the circle and the left and right front focal points of the
building. The erection of a water fountain and the provision of areas where participants can meet and relax
between classes will also take shape as full use is going
to be made of the currently under-utilised open green
spaces. The placement of benches, fitness stations and
walkways will add to this network of development. It is
envisaged that these should elevate the mood of participants as they seek moments of respite from their tasks
in the classrooms, and will enhance the character of the
College as a place for learning and for inspiration.
The final months of 2011 and most of January 2012 saw
training activities being conducted in a refurbished and
“new” segment of the College’s physical facilities. This
has been in the administration, classrooms and library
sections of the complex. The classrooms now reflect a
more modern look, and the library has undergone internal rearrangements for the reception of better educational materials and facilities, and improved participants’ comfort and research facilitation.
With a view to securing the highest levels of participation in education activities, the College circularised human resources departments, and followed up by having discussions with Human Resources Managers. That
“selling” effort was complemented by the traditional
methods of working with the Union’s Industrial Relations Officers and communicating with the Shop Stewards. The Executive Council wishes to repeat however
that generally the training programmes are for the training and development of all and not for a privileged few.
Thus far, the activities are attracting respectable levels
of participation. During the reporting period, four hundred and seventeen (417) participants were involved in
the training activities; two hundred and fifteen (215)
males and two hundred and two (202) females. Seventyeight participants were first-timers. In addition to the
number of persons participating in trade union sponsored activities, fifty-six (56) members of the Methodist
church were accommodated in two church workshops.
Use of the College by fraternal organisations
The College is currently working with library sciences
professionals to bring the library to a more professional
standard.
Efforts are also ongoing to ensure that the Labour College is environmentally sustainable and much research
and discussion have been had on this aspect of improvement. The vision is to create a system that decreases the
level of water and electrical energy consumption at the
Labour College. The collection of rainwater for current
irrigation purposes will in time extend to the flushing
of toilets and even greater usage as the Labour College
brings its unused land into productive usage. The Executive Council is currently exploring an external lighting system that is driven fully by either electricity, solar
panels or a complete solar system with batteries.
The Labour College is a growing organism. Its contribution to the educational development of the working class
cannot be ignored or disproved. Opportunities abound
for members to be taken to higher levels of development
and participation within the trade union movement and
those opportunities must be exploited to their fullest.
To grow is indeed to do something beyond what has
already been attained. Considering the strides the Barbados Workers’ Union has made to date, this then may
seem an impossible feat, but it is not one that is unattainable, particularly where all segments unite to make
it happen.
The College’s facilities continue to be in demand by
other organisations for the hosting of developmental
and social activities. In particular, such activities were
conducted by the Methodist Church and the Barbados
Agricultural Development Management Corporation.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), in furtherance of trade union education, used the College in
the conducting of education and training programmes.
Computer School
In the delivery of information and communication technology training, the College’s Computer School is performing creditably. During the period specific computer
training was delivered for employees of the Barbados
Light and Power Company, and members of the Retired
Workers’ Committee.
With a view to providing additional facilities for ICT
training, particularly computer repairs and maintenance, positive efforts are underway to renovate a part
of the premises at “Hempstead” for a classroom.
Although the ability to effectively use information technology is becoming increasing important for full participation in political, economic and social life, there are
still many Barbadians who, even though having access,
cannot use this technology. In the year under review the
Union has continued to train the workers (both members and non members) and retired workers in the use
of information technology.
Below are the courses which were conducted during the
period and the number of persons attending:
Courses
Fundamentals of Computers
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Word
Members of the Retired Members’ Committee also took
part in an eight-week computer training course which
covered areas such as word processing, emailing and
surfing the Internet. They were exposed to completing
their passport forms and making appointments at the
Immigration Department and also completing US Visa
applications online.
Numbers
Participating
66
11
22
A section of the Retirees’ computer class being held at the Computer School, “Solidarity House.”
“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress.
Working together is success.”
— Henry Forde.
Chapter 5
STANDING
COMMITTEES
Organising
The retirees have shown that they are searching for
something beyond leisurely retirement and are embracing multiple options, namely, a mix of learning, relaxing, volunteering their time and trying new things.
THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE PURSUED its mandate of consolidation of existing divisions and of partnerships. The Committee was represented by Coordinator, Comrade Julian Hunte at a seminar organised by the
Gender Equality Committee on March 8th, 2012 in the
vein of the potential to organise more workers who try
to balance work obligations with family responsibilities,
emphasis was made of the importance of ensuring that
workers can claim their right to be whole persons.
Further efforts have been made to build a symbiotic relationship with the B.W.U.’s Cooperative Credit Union
Limited [B.W.U.C.C.U.L], under the theme of Moving Forward Together - B.W.U.C.C.U.L & B.W.U. A
meeting was held on May 10th, 2012 with a team of the
B.W.U.C.C.U.L, at which the Committee heard of the
various ways that the existing and prospective membership of the B.W.U. can benefit from membership of the
B.W.U.’s Credit Union. Featuring prominently in this
regard is the competitively priced Medical Insurance
Scheme available to members. Efforts are still ongoing
to add further value to the services rendered to Union
members through this particular partnership.
Everywhere the world over, the crisis of youth unemployment has gripped the attention of the trade union
movement. The Barbados labour movement is no less
motivated than its global colleagues in stemming the
threat facing young members. The vibrant B.W.U. Youth
Arm has been also identified as a partner in organising
for this committee. Exploratory discussions were held
on 12th July, 2012 in this regard, resulting in joint campaign planning.
Retired Members
The Executive Council applauds the retirees for using
this time of their lives as a period for growth and reinvention. Retirees in the B.W.U. have been assisting in
reshaping the image of retired workers; transforming
how society views retirement and bringing about a new
image of ageing in Barbados.
The Council lauds the Retired Members’ Committee’s
new approach of contacting some of the newly elected committees of management to ensure that they are
aware of its offerings - particularly the Bernard King
Scholarship Fund, the outreach for face-to-face briefings
with pre-retirees, and the training workshops for former
members. Invitations are consistently issued to join the
activities organised for retirees which include some new
ones like new health care initiatives and the introduction of new dimensions to planning and executing outreach programmes for retired workers.
The Council further welcomes the establishment in January 2012, of a Support Group for persons with chronic
non-communicable diseases. The Support Group will
direct its members on various ways of building and
enhancing social support particularly with family and
friends. It is also designed to bring likeminded persons
together to have specialised education and training; to
provide social interaction and relationship; help sufferers find meaning to life by keeping their minds and bodies active; fight stereotypes; motivate one another; share
experiences, and be apprised of current effective health
care approaches.
Palliative care is another approach which has been embraced during the period under review by the retirees.
This approach is a new thrust being promoted by health
care professionals and health care stakeholders in Barbados. The retirees have had dialogue with the newly established Barbados Association of Palliative Care (BAPC).
This holistic approach to health care embraces all health
care operatives and families and ensures that persons remaining at home during illness, even if they may have
critical health challenges and are in the latter days of
their lives, are afforded every facet of quality care. The
Executive Council is happy that the retired group is part
of the social network that will assist the country in being
sensitised to this collaborative approach to health care.
The retirees have also widened their scope of visits to
shut-ins. Visits to private day care facilities for the el-
derly and for persons with disabilities have increased.
The group of over 100 retirees, which has divided itself
into four teams, has intensified its visits to the various
public district hospitals and other shut-ins.
The changing dynamics of the country, in relation to the
upsurge in the use of IT devices, increased criminal activity, the heightened awareness campaign by healthcare
professionals on the harmful effects of chronic illnesses
and economic challenges, impacted heavily on the focus
of this year’s programme for retirees. The Council has
always seen education as a major part of the development of members. The annual one-week seminar at the
Labour College focused on topics the retirees requested
to assist them in their daily living including Law and
the Distribution of Assets, Managing Personal Finances, Heart and Strokes Concerns, Alzheimer’s disease,
HIVAIDS and the Elderly and Refuse to be a Victim. The
8-week I.T. basic level programme again featured greatly
in the retirees’ activities.
Recreation helps to bring vigour and vitality to the retirees’ programming efforts. The Executive Council
was once again happy to be part of the annual B.W.U.
Founders Day Activity specially put together for retirees
and their family and friends. This activity was held on 1
October and was styled “Grandparents Day”. The evening extravaganza displayed a dramatic theatrical presentation and dance by Danse Nationale Afrique. After
the presentation the gathering socialised and exchanged
greeting. A Games Evening, a scenic ride and the yearly Cultural Evening also brought together a number of
friends and family for fun times with the retirees.
Political Action
The Political Action Committee continued to pursue its
mandate to research, discuss and recommend action to
the Executive Council on matters of a socio-economic
and political nature which may have practical significance for the members of the Barbados Workers’ Union
and workers in general.
The committee reviewed the performance of the Barbadian economy in 2011 and the prospects for 2012. The
consensus was that 2012 would be a very challenging
year for the Union. The global economic situation had
not improved and a double dip recession loomed. The
tourism sector the main engine of growth in Barbados
continued to be negatively impacted and it appeared
that there would be a longer period before there was
improvement in the economic situation. The members
recommended to the Executive Council that, as it did in
2008, it should call on the Government to convene a national consultation to discuss the state of the Barbadian
economy and develop an approach for the way forward.
The committee reflected on the matter of regional travel
in light of the suspension of flights by REDjet. Members felt that if there was to be free movement of goods
and people in the region then the cost of transportation
should be affordable. It was noted that with the arrival of REDjet the two other regional carriers, LIAT and
Caribbean Airways, had responded to the competition
by lowering their fares but the fares started to increase
following the suspension of flights by REDjet. Members
were firmly of the view, however, that regional governments should not put any money into REDjet, a private
company. Any action should be to control the price of
regional air travel.
Concern was expressed about the treatment of REDjet’s
staff, unsatisfactory work arrangements and recently the
non-payment of wages. As an alternative the Committee
recommended that the Executive Council call on regional governments to take whatever action is necessary to
get the proposed Ferry Service going between Barbados,
Trinidad, St. Lucia and any other country. This would
not only reduce the cost of travel for persons but fresh
fruits and vegetables and other goods would be able to
move freely, thereby reducing the cost of living.
The committee considered the issue of food and nutrition security in light of rising global commodity prices
and food prices. It was felt that, with more persons moving out of farming, food security was becoming a greater
threat. Praedial larceny was considered as a contributing
factor to the exodus of farmers. The committee deemed
that the penalties were not related to the seriousness of
the crime and recommended that government strengthen the legislation to make it a deterrent. There were
mixed views as to whether the provision of land for
young persons, land for the landless would curb this
practice. The jury is still out on the matter but it should
be noted that land for the project is being taken up and
is being farmed.
In keeping with the mandate of the Executive Council that there should be interaction between the advisory committees, the Political Action Committee and
the B.W.U. Youth Arm held a joint meeting on 22nd
March 2012. The meeting discussed ways in which the
two committees could work together in the future. This
was considered desirable because the knowledge shared
would be beneficial to both groups. The members of
the Youth Arm Invited the PAC members to join them
in their annual Regional Youth Seminar. The problems
in the region are similar and they could benefit from
the advice and wisdom of PAC members. Also together
they could develop a body of proposals which could be
submitted first to the Barbados Government and then to
all CARICOM Heads of Government for action. These
proposals would be on issues such as food and nutrition
security, agriculture, transportation among others.
The committee expressed concern about the disclosure
of information requirement in the proposed Prevention of Corruption Act, 2010. As a result the Executive
Council wrote the Cabinet to have the draft amended.
The President and CEO of a trade union and representatives serving on Government Boards and Committees
are required to disclose financial information. The requirement extended to family members. The Union realised that this would deter Union volunteers from contributing in public affairs. The Union’s views have been
communicated to the Cabinet which is yet to make the
Executive Council aware of what will be the outcome in
the matter.
The committee also discussed building standards in
Barbados, as well as crime and violence and the recent
debate about privatisation of the Transport Board. Members were firm in their view that the Transport Board
should not be privatised and that the public should always have access to safe and reliable transport at an affordable price.
Gender Equality
The Executive Council is pleased to report that the Gender Equality Committee has intensified its efforts over
the last year, to promote, among union members, the
public and the Government, the adoption of ILO Convention 156: Workers With Family Responsibilities.
The Executive Council recalls that previously, the Committee had petitioned the Government of Barbados to
adopt this important Convention in order to offer support to those persons who were experiencing challenges while working and taking care of their families and
persons who were unable to enter the world of work
because of family responsibilities. The Committee recognised the lengthy process toward the adoption of a
Convention, and concentrated its attention during the
period under review, on one aspect of the Convention –
family-friendly policies.
With the assistance of the ILO Decent Work Team and
Country Office for the Caribbean, the Gender Equality
Committee used the occasion of International Women’s
Day 2012 under the theme “Bridging the Gap Between
Work and Family Responsibilities” to bring male and
female leaders together in a seminar which examined
the importance of negotiating family-friendly workplace
policies with employers. On the recommendation of the
seminar, the Gender Equality Committee recommended
to the Executive Council, several examples of familyfriendly policies which had been sourced from international trade union affiliates and which could inform the
drafting of similar clauses for inclusion in union proposals to amend local collective agreements.
The Committee also urged the Executive Council to survey the Union’s membership with a view to ascertaining
the extent of the challenges which workers face in relation to their work and family responsibilities.
The Executive Council applauds the continued work of
the Gender Equality Committee in this important matter and is pleased to note that this work has advanced
to the stage where the Committee is having discussions
with the Director of the Bureau of Gender Affairs and
Government’s Advisor on Poverty Alleviation regarding
the need for Government to provide support for those
workers who have family responsibilities.
In addition to its work in promoting ILO Convention
156, the Gender Equality Committee continued to campaign for the elimination of all forms of violence. The
Committee was fortunate to garner the support of organisations such as the national television station, the
Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation which used its
popular programmes to promote the committee’s campaign, and the B.W.U. Credit Union which joined with
the Committee in commemoration of International
Women’s Day 2012, to hang a banner outside its office
in Bridgetown under the slogan “Break the Silence, End
the Violence.”
The Committee used the Union’s Radio Programme
Workers’ Viewpoint and the United Nation’s Day for the
Elimination of Violence Against Women in November
2011 to speak out, and to encourage workers to speak
out against violence.
The Executive Council notes the building of mutually
rewarding relationships between the Gender Equality Committee and the above named organisations and
looks forward to further collaborations.
Congratulations are extended to the Club and its Executive. The Executive Council looks forward to a greater
integration of Solidarity Toastmasters into the activities
of the Union.
While the Gender Equality Committee has been busy
with its campaigns, the Executive Council is pleased that
it has found time to bring together a cross section of
union members of all ages through the hosting of “Movies on the Lawn”, for a night of solidarity and fun on 19th
May 2012 at union headquarters, “Solidarity House”.
Occupational Safety and Health
The Executive Council is happy that the Gender Equality Committee recognised the need to build unity among
union members and extends its kudos to its members
for creatively strengthening inter-committee solidarity.
The Executive Council commends the Gender Equality
Committee for its work over the past year and encourages the members to continue in their quest to achieve
Decent Work for all workers.
Solidarity Toastmasters
The Executive Council is pleased to note that Solidarity
Toastmasters Club continued on a path of skills training
and awareness building for its members and members of
the Union generally during the period under review. In
a spirit of “give-back”, the Club conducted a session on
public speaking during the seminar on Communication
in the Workplace which was held at the Labour College
during the month of February 2012.
This collaboration was further strengthened by the work
of the Club, which, in partnership with the BWU Youth
Arm, sought to develop a programme in public speaking
to be conducted shortly by Toastmasters for Youth Arm
members.
The Executive Council is heartened by the solidarity
shown by the Club and looks forward to greater participation by the members, especially the newly elected
Executive which is comprised of:
President - Cynthia Williams [ACB]
Vice President of Education - Toastmaster Jackie Clarke
Vice President of Membership - Toastmaster Mildred Hunte
Vice President of Public Relations - Colbert Ashby [CC],[CL]
Secretary - Toastmaster Sonia Moore
Treasurer - Toastmaster Teresa Hamilton
Sergeant-At-Arms - Toastmaster ShirleyAnn Walker
More than 200 shop stewards drawn from divisions of
the Barbados Workers’ Union benefited from training
in the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Programme on Occupational Safety and Health and the Environment (OSHE) in the Caribbean, which ended with
a two-day review in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, beginning
March 12, 2012.
The one-year programme, under the supervision of the
ILO Decent Work Team and Office in Port-of-Spain,
was aimed at strengthening the capacity of Caribbean
constituents to develop and implement initiatives for
improving occupational safety and health and contributing to the environmental sustainability of small island
developing states.
Beginning in February 2012 when the programme was
launched, more than 1800 persons from across the English-speaking and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, comprising labour inspectors, employers and trade unionists,
were trained in various areas of safety and health, including OSH Management Systems, ILO Standards on OSH,
Industrial Hygiene, OSH Data Collection and Reporting,
HIV and AIDS and the Workplace and OSH and the Environment. The Barbados Workers’ Union added other
health issues to its programme such as Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health and the Workplace.
Four out of the 42 workshops organised in the region
were planned by the Barbados Workers’ Union Labour
College for shop stewards and members of joint health
and safety committees, drawn principally from private
sector companies including the retail, manufacturing and financial sectors and statutory corporations on
the island. As a result, worksites established OSH programmes including the setting up of joint OSH committees and revived committees where they had been
established but were not functioning.
At the review meeting, chaired by Dr. Giovanni di Cola,
Officer-in-Charge, ILO Office for the Caribbean, and the
OSHE specialists, including lead consultant, Dr. Alan
Le Serve, the work programme was warmly applauded.
Participants were also made aware that the work of capacity-building was not over. The Executive Council is
pleased to recognise the efforts made by General Secretary, Sir Roy in lobbying for the funds. The Council is
pleased to learn that he has secured ILO’s commitment
for the same level of funding for 2012 into 2013.
HIV and AIDS
Since the mid-1980s, the Executive Council of the Barbados Workers’ Union has been in the front line of the
fight against HIV and AIDS particularly in the area of
building awareness at the level of the workforce and
at the national level where it has enjoyed a productive
partnership with the National HIV/AIDS Commission,
the AIDS Foundation of Barbados Inc and the Ministry of Labour in areas such as advocacy and training.
From very early in the history of the disease, the BWU
recognised HIV and AIDs as being a threat not merely
to the health of the community, and, by extension, the
workforce, but equally a threat to economic development, and therefore sought to strengthen partnerships
with the Employers and health NGOs to promote training at the shop floor level and engagement in advocacy,
nationwide.
The Executive Council is represented on the boards of
both the National HIV/AIDS Commission and the AIDS
Foundation Inc. and this provides an opportunity for the
Union to be at the forefront of the planning of national
programmes on HIV/AIDS. The benefits of the partnership approach is more visible at the annual May Day celebrations when the Executive Council, in conjunction
with the two national HIV and AIDs organisations, as
well as the Ministry of Health and the Barbados Family
Planning Association, spearheads a national promotion
in the May Day Street parade and celebrations.
During the period under review, the work of the Executive Council in relation to HIV and AIDS became more
heightened as it sought to partner with the Ministry of
Labour in taking basic level training programmes to the
worksites of the agricultural workers. The programme
came in the form of “bus rides” in which personnel
from the Ministry of Labour and the Union visited the
workplaces of employees in the sugar industry and the
wider agricultural sector, in the rural parishes, to sensitise them on the matter of HIV and AIDS. Workers were
trained, among other areas, in condom use, as well as
being quizzed on HIV and AIDS. These bus rides covered parishes in the north, south and eastern parts of
Barbados. This exercise proved to be useful since a large
number of the workers who received this training are
not easily reached by formal means of education.
In addition to its ongoing training for its members at
the BWU Labour College, the Executive Council, in association with the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff
Associations of Barbados also teamed up with the AIDS
Foundation of Barbados Inc. to mount workshops at the
College on ‘Stigma and Human Rights’.
BWU members, drawn principally from statutory corporations like the Barbados Water Authority, the National
Conservation Commission and the National Housing
Corporation, joined their colleagues from the CTUSAB
in studying the AIDS Foundation’s Charter on HIV and
AIDS and Human Rights in Workplaces in Barbados.
The Charter was crafted specifically to promote the protection of human rights of all persons and show support
to those infected and affected by the disease. The implementation strategy is one of a trainer of trainers’ model
where workers from both the Public and Private sectors
will be equipped with the tools to advocate for nondiscrimination and stigma and human rights protection.
These workshops, which were started in the month of
February, will continue during the remainder of 2012.
Counselling
The provision of workplace counselling services is one of
the tools of workplace management which have steadily
gained popularity in the corporate world over the last
twenty (20) years. The Executive Council, cognisant
that this world wide phenomenon would be another
valuable alternative in its outreach to members and being acquainted with issues of managing crises, particularly during recessions, established an external service to
bring greater balance to workplace offerings.
The Executive Council lauds the growth of this service
within the Union. The traditional mode of individual
counselling or ‘remedial’ counselling, is still the preferred mode as workers are afforded one-to-one interaction with the counsellor. However, the Union has also
embraced the recently accepted approach of ‘preventive’
counselling.
Preventive counselling has been incorporated into some
of the Union’s training courses at ‘Solidarity House” and
at the Labour College. In programmes at the Labour
College ‘The Contract of Employment and Counselling
Strategies’ is a well appreciated session and interaction
with participants is robust. The participants are able to
highlight a wide variety of challenges, share their own
experiences and those expressed by others. In these dynamic sessions different approaches and strategies are
explored so as to encourage workers to have peaceful
existence with both management and co-workers.
Group counselling, another preventive method, although by no means a substitute for individual counselling sessions, offers periodic sessions, of approximately
two hours, for groups of employees. Here the counsellor can hold the sessions at workplaces and explore challenges identified by the workers as being specific to their
area of work A variety of strategies are being aligned to
the various scenarios. Group counselling assists a wider
cross section of workers helping them to make social
adjustments including adjusting to new conditions, new
rules and policies and using different approaches to address any disconnect between worker and management
or worker and worker. The overall aim is to promote
and maintain industrial peace and to assist in ensuring a
quality workforce.
The Council is also pleased that the BWU provides employees who are close to retirement with transitional information to guide them through retirement decisions.
The service also caters to former members, and persons
with disabilities. Many persons have expressed their
pleasure at having a facility where they can freely express their doubts and fears or that can accommodate
them without the stigma and stereotyping which sometimes frustrate many persons in this age group.
During the period under review, over 265 persons can
be identified as having interacted with the service. The
areas which brought persons to the service included:angry outbursts, absenteeism, substance abuse, anxiety,
depression, injury, loss, anxiety, depression, retirement
and disability issues, financial concerns physical and
emotional health issues, conflict and low self-esteem.
Many of the issues highlighted are brought to the counsellor’s attention because of differences of opinions, protecting interests, interpersonal problems, adjustment to
new rules, new policies, inability to meet job demands,
confrontation with authority, conflict with supervisors,
lack of team spirit at workplace, health problems and a
the vast disconnect between workers and management
personnel.
The Executive Council is very much aware that most
people handle difficulties in their lives well by themselves. Others have trouble, because of a number of factors, including facing too much at one time or not having
the experience to handle them. The Executive Council
is aware that the social and professional stigma attached
to counselling can present the biggest fears of members
utilising the service. The Executive Council is, however,
aware that counselling can decrease the amount of time
it takes to recover, help lessen the amount of suffering,
and decrease the chances of matters getting worse or
spreading.
The Council therefore encourages members and former
members to take advantage of this powerful tool. The
Council further reinforces its commitment to working
with management in bringing peace and prosperity to
workplaces and reminds employers that organisations
that care for their employees usually have more meaningful and productive results.
“How you do one thing, is how you do everything. Be aware.”
— Anonymous
Chapter 6
MAY DAY
His Excellency Sir Elliott Belgrave, Governor General of Barbados (l) is pictured at “Solidarity House” for the commencement of the 2012 May Day Thanksgiving Service. On Sir Elliott’s left are Lady Belgrave, BWU President General, Comrade Linda Brooks, BWU General Secretary, Sir Roy Trotman, Pastor Dr. Mark
Harewood, the Governor General’s Aide-de-Camp, Captain Carlos Lovell, and the Rt. Rev. Dr. Frank Marshall, Dean of St. Michael’s Cathedral
May Day 2012
THE VALUE OF THE Barbados Social Partnership was
again exemplified in the successful preparation and
execution of the 2012 May Day season. The May Day
planning committee, composed of representatives of the
Social Partners, worked assiduously, against the backdrop of the economic downturn, to prepare the May Day
events using the theme, ‘Launching Out’ as a rallying
cry. The Executive Council was invited to take a leap
of faith and to plan a vigorous, inclusive programme in
spite of the doleful economic outlook.
The Ministry of Labour, the lead Ministry in the Social
Partnership, galvanised the Public Sector and the Bar40 | THE 71st ANNUAL REPORT ‘11 - ‘12
bados Shipping and Trading Company Limited, one of
the island’s largest conglomerates, gave full support to
the May Day (May 1) activities. Additionally, the Barbados Manufacturers’ Association (BMA), using the theme,
‘Our Products, Our Celebrations’, worked tirelessly to
mobilise its membership to participate in the workers’
festival. This support was borne out by the very well attended and colourful street parade and the celebrations
at Brown’s Beach.
The NGO community, particularly those involved in
health promotion, also collaborated with the Union in
demonstrating to the Barbadian community the need
for engaging in healthy lifestyles. Much emphasis was
placed on HIV and AIDS, with support from the HIV/
Members of the Cadet Corps lead the BWU May Day 2012 Street Parade
AIDS Commission which presented hundreds of Tshirts, to persons in the street parade, that marketed anti
stigma and anti discrimination themes.
The May Day events were as follows:
Visits to shut-ins
Visits to shut-ins May Day Launch
Visits to Shut-ins
Heroes’ Day Outreach
Thanksgiving Service
Street Parade and Celebrations
Children’s Party
B.W.U./Cave Shepherd Cricket Match
May Day Launch
‘May Day 2012’ was launched at a ceremony, attended
by officials of the Ministry of Labour, members of the
May Day Planning Committee and a mixture of other
Union members, at B.W.U. headquarters, “Solidarity House”, on the morning of Wednesday, April 18th.
The speakers included Dr. the Honourable Esther ByerSuckoo, Minister of Labour and Social Security, Senator
Sir Roy Trotman, General Secretary of the B.W.U. and
Ms Bobbi Mackay, Executive Director of the Barbados
Manufacturers’ Association.
- Saturday, April 14th
- Sunday, April 15th
- Wednesday, April 18th
- Saturday, April 21st
- Saturday, April 28th
- Sunday, April 29th
- Tuesday, May 1st
- Saturday, May 5th
- Sunday, May 6th
Dr. Byer-Suckoo lauded the B.W.U. for its efforts over
the past seven decades in protecting the rights of the
workers and assisting them in enjoying a high quality of life. She added that the B.W.U.’s commitment to
the workers was particularly evident in the attention it
placed in the planning of the May Day activities. She
pledged her Ministry’s support.
The Christ Church Foundation School Choir, under the direction of the music teacher, Mr. Lowrey Worrell, performs at the BWU 2012 May Day Thanksgiving Service.
Sir Roy thanked the Social Partners for helping the
B.W.U. and subsequently the Congress of Trade Unions
and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) to realise
that the May Day occasion was more than just a day for
worker celebration, but rather a day for national thanksgiving and celebration for the value of work to our lives.
His view was that particularly in this season when we are
experiencing some hardships in finding jobs we should
more readily accept the value and the importance of
work; and when we have worked we should experience
the importance of endeavouring to improve the quality
of work, and to make sure that we use that work in the
best way we can to build our village, our community
and our nation.
Outreach Programme
For the second year running, the Executive Council,
headed by a team including its officers, the President
General, General Secretary, and Treasurer, along with
Executive Councilors, staff and members, intensified
its outreach to former members, e.g., B.W.U. divisional
leaders of the decades of 1970s and 1980s, shut-ins,
workers with disabilities, patients at the geriatric hospitals and children from the Government-run homes.
These visits were undertaken on the dates listed earlier.
On Heroes’ Day, the combined outreach team, which included The Excelsior Singers, continued its programme,
inaugurated some fifteen years ago, of bringing cheer to
the residents of the district hospitals in the parishes of
St. Philip, St. Michael, St. Thomas and St. Lucy and the
Psychiatric Hospital. Accompanied by guitarist Comrade Frank Yarde, the team sang songs of praise, read
Bible lessons, delivered sermonettes and prayers and
interacted with the patients, some of whom were former members of the Union. The team also presented the
hospitals with gifts, such as bed linen and toiletries. This
year, with support from the Barbados National Bank, the
St. Philip District Hospital was presented with a wheel
chair.
The Council wishes to extend special thanks to the
Excelsior Singers of Barbados who have been bringing
cheer to the Psychiatric Hospital for close to 10 years.
The Director and Staff of the Hospital have extended appreciation to the Excelsior Singers for their continued
gracious support.
May Day Thanksgiving Service
The Executive Council was honoured to have the presence of Acting Governor General the Honourable Elliott
Belgrave (now Sir Elliott Belgrave) and Mrs. Belgrave
(now Lady Belgrave) at the May Day thanksgiving service. The service was conducted by Reverend Dr. Frank
Marshall, Dean of St. Michael and All Angels Cathedral
and Chaplain of the Barbados Workers’ Union. Reverend Dr. Mark Harewood, Pastor of Love and Light Ministries delivered a stirring sermon at the service, which
Reverend Dr. Mark Harewood of Love and Light Ministries has the attention of the congregation at the BWU’s 2012 Thanksgiving Service.
was attended by Members of Parliament, the Judiciary,
the Diplomatic Corps as well as business leaders, the
trade union brotherhood and friends of the Union. Dr.
Harewood, speaking on the theme ‘Launching Out’, appealed to each member of the Barbados Social Partnership to play its role in furtherance of the development
of our country. He counseled government not to make
what appeared to be politically correct decisions, or decisions that were aimed at benefitting their supporters;
rather government, he emphasised, should always seek
to make judgments that would redound to the benefit
of all Barbadians. He appealed to businessmen to understand that they had a special responsibility to their
employees, as well as an obligation to contribute to the
effective and profitable running of their businesses. He
called on business to launch out and find creative ways
to reward and empower their workers so that ALL and
not merely a FEW would benefit. And he stressed that
while trade unions must play their part and remain ever
steadfast in their defence of the rights of the workers, by
ensuring that those rights were not eroded, trade unions
must continue to be realistic and reasonable when it
came to bargaining for wages and conditions, and the
workers should always seek to make themselves worthy
of their hire.
The Royal Barbados Police Band, under the baton of Superintendent Ellis was at its brilliant best as it backed the
lusty hymn singing and rendered musical items during
the service. The Excelsior Singers of Barbados as well as
the Choir of the Christ Church Foundation School also
performed.
During the service the Executive Council paid tribute to
four persons who have contributed in a significant way
to the May Day celebrations. They were – Chief Petty
Officer Ryan Selby of the Barbados Defence Force (The
Coast Guard), Mr. Grantley Haynes, a retired employee
of the Barbados Light and Power Company Limited, Mr.
Granville Collins, Divisional Officer, Barbados Fire Service (all members of the May Day Planning Committee);
and Mr. Hugh Durant, retired Corporate Communications Manager, Cave Shepherd.
As is traditionally done, the parade halted at the statue
of National Hero, The Rt. Excellent Sir Frank Leslie Walcott, late General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’
Union, at the NIS Buildings on Culloden Road where
the wreath-laying ceremony, in honour of Sir Frank was
held. The ceremony was presided over by B.W.U. Chaplain, Dr. Frank Marshall. Among those laying wreaths
were - Dr. Byer-Suckoo, Pauline Lady Walcott, widow
of Sir Frank, and Comrade Linda Brooks, President of
the B.W.U.
Lord High Admiral of the Barbados Landship, Vernon Watson leads the
Landship on stage during the 2012 May Day entertainment programme
on Brown’s Beach.
May 1 Street Parade and
Celebrations
The unionised work force of Barbados, along with their
management, came out in full force on May Day to pay
homage to past Labour leaders and celebrate the workers’ festival. Buoyed by the May Day theme, ‘Launching
Out’ the Executive Council was able to draw support
from Government ministries, para-statals and departments in the Government sector, business houses and
manufacturers as well as the NGO community in the
planning and execution of the colourful street parade
and celebrations which were held at Brown’s Beach on
Bay Street, St. Michael.
Buoyed by the positive message of solidarity and hope,
which flowed from the May Day theme and the May
Day jingle ‘One Hand Can’t Clap’, the Council worked
unwaveringly, with the support of the tripartite planning committee, to make the May 1 celebrations a major success. All of the major groups, representing the
Public and Private Sectors, which participated in the
street parade in 2011, returned this year to create an
even bigger and more jubilant festival. The street parade,
efficiently manned by the Royal Barbados Police Force
and the marshals, attracted large numbers of people who
lined the streets from the Garrison Savannah, where it
started to Brown’s Beach, via Culloden Road, Pine Road,
Tweedside Road, Weymouth, Crumpton Street and
Probyn Street. Each group, inspired by music from its
truck, was decked out in T-shirts marketing its particular company or organisation.
Following the wreath-laying ceremony and, with its eyes
focussed on the future, the Executive Council placed the
uniform youth groups in the vanguard of the street parade. In that position, the Cadet Corps, in their colourful
blue and white uniforms, marched crisply ahead of the
Scouts, the Guides and the Brownies against the backdrop of applause from the onlookers.
The uniform youth groups were followed by a colourful
procession of bands of employers and workers, dressed
in T-shirts, some with placards, representing the B.W.U.
and the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations
of Barbados, Ministry of Labour, Barbados Manufacturers’ Association, Barbados Port Inc., Barbados National
Oil Company Limited, Oran Limited, Human Resources
Management Association of Barbados, Central Bank of
Barbados, Ministry of Agriculture, BICO Limited, Barbados Shipping and Trading Company Limited, WIBISCO Limited, TMR Sales and Services Limited, Barbados
Water Authority, Transport Board, the Caribbean Examination’s Council, Department of Constituency Empowerment, Royal Pavilion and the Health Contingent
representing the Barbados Family Planning Association,
National HIV/AIDS Commission, AIDS Foundation of
Barbados Inc., National Council on Substance Abuse,
and the Diabetes Association.
The May Day address by the General Secretary sought
to capitalise on the efforts being made by some social
actors to engage in initiatives which would not merely
massage the economy for the private gain of the better
positioned among us, but which would instead develop
the entire society with due consideration being given to
all strata. Such building blocks, he submitted had to be
placed firmly on foundations of Respect for all, on Justice before God and in the eyes of the law, on Freedom
of Association and on Equality without regard for colour
of skin or country of origin.
The General Secretary was very careful to insist that
while Barbados should welcome all well-meaning per-
that the island’s legislation did not fall behind workers’
legislation of other parts of the world.
Following the speeches, the May Day audience was
treated to three hours of entertainment by some of Barbados’ legendary entertainers, including Grynner, John
King, Tony Grazette, Richard Stoute and Smokey Burke.
The reigning Calypso Monarch Popsicle and former Calypso Monarch Blood also treated the lively audience to
entertaining performances.
The Barbados Shipping and Trading (BS&T) contingent was the largest
group in the 2012 May Day Street Parade.
B.W.U./Cave Shepherd
Cricket Match
The above-mentioned match was played before a lively crowd which included President General Comrade
Linda Brooks, General Secretary Sir Roy Trotman, the
outgoing Corporate Communications Director at Cave
Shepherd, Mr. Hugh Durant and his wife, Hazel, at the
B.W.U. Labour College grounds. The Twenty/20 match
was a tribute to Mr. Durant who had retired at the end
of May 2012, and, as sponsor of the match which was
played for more than a decade, had shown keen interest in the development of sports at the B.W.U. Sir Roy
thanked Mr. Durant, Mrs. Durant and the company for
their support over the years and wished Mr. Durant
“well” in his retirement.
Pauline Lady Walcott, widow of Rt. Excellent Sir Frank Leslie Walcott, late
General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union, receives a wreath during the wreath-laying ceremony on May Day. Also in picture (l-r) are the
Minister of Labour and Social Security, Dr. the Hon. Esther Byer-Suckoo,
Sir Roy Trotman, General Secretary, BWU, Comrade Linda Brooks, President General, BWU and Mr. Chris De Cairies, former chairman, Barbados
Private Sector Association.
sons to its shores, that it should make it clear that action
which disadvantaged citizens in favour of non-citizens
was not going to be tolerated. Indeed, the Migrant, for
his or her part, should enjoy conditions no less favourable than those of locals.
Recent revelations in a large Bridgetown store, in a security service company and in one of the worst examples
of hotel management, may serve to emphasise the need
which there continues to be for persons like the General
Secretary to challenge our behaviour one towards another. The importance of mutuality of respect can never
be over emphasised.
The Prime Minister, in his address, promised a comprehensive overhaul of all major legislation relating to
workers’ rights, in the forthcoming months, to ensure
The 2012 May Day activities, in particular, the May 1
street parade and celebrations, were organised without
major incident. The Union therefore wishes to place on
record its sincere thanks to the Royal Barbados Police
Force who maintained law and order on the route of the
parade. The Union also commends the Defence Force,
through the Coast Guard, for its efficiency in ensuring
safety at Brown’s Beach. These efforts were supported by
the Ministry of Health, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital,
the Barbados Fire Service, the Department of Emergency
Service and the Barbados Red Cross.
The Union wishes to thank all of its partners in the Private Sector, Government departments and the NGO
community, as well as those individuals, whose efforts
ensured the staging of a successful May Day 2012.
2012 Week of Excellence
After a decade of teamwork with the other Social Partners to improve ‘excellence’ in the workplace, the Executive Council of Barbados Workers’ Union is persuaded
that Barbadian employers and the workforce are reachTHE 71st ANNUAL REPORT ‘11 - ‘12 | 45
ing the point where they are recognising the value of
training in ‘service excellence’.
This observation became clear over the past two years
of The Week of Excellence when employers, both in the
Government Service and the Private Sector, responded
positively to the invitations extended to them by the Social Partners’ Week of Excellence planning committee,
for training organised during the Week of Excellence,
in the months of February and March. Training sessions
were very well patronised in all of the subject areas, with
some being oversubscribed.
Under the theme “Caring Corporations for Community
Development: Working to Build a Better Society”, the
planning committee organised the following programme
for the 2012 Week of Excellence:
• A thanksgiving service at the Bethel Methodist
Church - Sunday, 19 February
• A workshop for CEOs in the Private Sector and
Managers in the Public Sector, Grand Salle, The
Central Bank of Barbados – Monday, 20 February
• A workshop for Human Resource and Personnel
Managers – “Solidarity House”, Tuesday, February 21
• A workshop for supervisors and line workers –
B.W.U. Labour College, Wednesday, February
22
• The Schools’ Programme – Seventh Day Adventist School, Thursday, February 23
• Workshop for Secretaries/Treasurer in Public
Secondary Schools, Almond Bay Centre, Thursday, February 23; and
• ‘Taking Service Excellence to Streets’ – Heroes’
Square, Bridgetown, Saturday, February 25.
The first workshop was addressed by management consultants, Antigua-born Dr. Carla Fleming and Mr. Frank
Adjisibe of Nigeria on ‘Corporate Citizenship as Business
Strategy: Structuring Your Programme for Impact, Relevance and Continuity”. This workshop was designed to
highlight the benefits that can accrue to businesses enterprises and, indeed, the wider society when business
houses interact with and invest in their communities,
toward the national good.
A highlight of the second day’s workshop, designed for
human resource and personnel managers, was the presentation by Dr. Merle Lewis, head of the PAHO Office,
Bridgetown, who spoke on the subject of ‘Mental Health,
Better Nutrition and Productivity’. Among the other presentations was ‘The results of the National Initiative for
Service Excellence (NISE) Engagement Survey’, by Ms.
Kim Tudor, CEO, NISE.
‘Motivating Teams Towards Achieving Excellent Business Results’ by Ms. Karen Philips, Training Officer,
Productivity Council, and a workshop, focusing on
‘Timeliness, Attendance, Core Values as They Impact on
Worker Productivity’, by Mr. Ed Bushell, an Industrial
Relations Consultant, were the key subject areas presented at the B.W.U. Labour College.
Thursday, February 23, was devoted to the training of
students and staff in the secondary schools, which are
viewed as cradles for the workplace. To this end, Tracey Austin, Chief Services Advisor, NISE, addressed the
students at the Seventh Day Adventist School on ‘The
Guiding Principles of Good Service’. The workshop on
‘Managing Industrial Relations in Schools’, which was
specially designed for secretaries/treasurer in the Public Secondary Schools, dealt with pertinent issues such
as ‘Grievance Handling’ by Julian Hunte, Deputy General Secretary, B.W.U., ‘Conflict Resolution’, by Comrade Ulric Sealy, Principal, B.W.U. Labour College, and
‘Human Resources Management’, by Dr. Akentoolove
Corbin, of University of the West Indies.
The week of activities ended with representatives of the
Social Partnership engaging shoppers and passersby
in discussions on ‘Service Excellence’, and presenting
them with mementos. B.W.U. General Secretary also
addressed the shoppers, while speaking from a tent, in
‘Heroes’ Square’.
The organising committee of The Week of Excellence
comprised the following organisations: The Central
Bank of Barbados, The Productivity Council, The Barbados Employers’ Confederation, The Office of Public
Sector Reform, The Congress of Trade Unions and Staff
Associations of Barbados and the National Initiative for
Service Excellence.
B.W.U. Netball Team
Over the past three decades, the Executive Council of
the Barbados Workers’ Union, working through its netball club, has given full support to the staging of annual
netball tournaments, tours to neighbouring islands and
other social and educational activities, with the view to
sharpening the technical skills and life skills of the netballers. This year, the Coordinating Committee saw the need for
more effort to be made to assist in self-development of
the players, where they could build self-esteem, awareness and self-image. With this view, the idea of a pageant was born. The netballers were given the chance to
show their creativity, intelligence and talents in other
ways other than in their sporting discipline. The first B.W.U. Netball Pageant entitled, “Reaching for
the Net” was held at “Solidarity House” on 21st April,
2012. The pageant sought to highlight the other positive attributes of the netballers apart from on the netball
court.
Five netballers, representing teams which participated
in the B.W.U. Netball Tournament, took part in the pageant. They were Sasha Davis (Ms. Bagatelle), Cheri Boyce
(Ms. Supercentre), Charlene Jordan (Ms. Hill Side Lime
Newbury), Brittany Wood (Ms. Wolverines) and Shekira
Boxill (Ms. Solaris Energy). The contestants showcased
talents in song and drama, appeared in evening wear,
netball wear and took part in a question and answer segment. The winner was Ms. Shekira Boxill. She won the
Best Talent & Best Sportswear categories. Cheri Boyce
and Charlene Jordan were first and second runner up
respectively. The team has also endeavoured in recent years to connect with the region through a number of overseas tours
which sought to broaden their competition base and assist in their personal development. This year, the Netball
Team participated in a Goodwill Tour to Trinidad and
Tobago for the period 23rd-28th May, 2012. The seventeen-member team was selected after months of intense
training. The players were again chosen from the clubs
that took part in the B.W.U. Netball Tournament.
The team was led by Coordinator of the Netball Tournament, Comrade Mary Vaughan and the management
team comprised: Comrades Joan Scantlebury, Manager/
Assistant Coach; Marsha Walcott, Assistant Manager;
Cameron Greenidge, Coach and Coreen Gibson.
terest in participating in the upcoming Barbados Workers’ Union Tournament held yearly from September. The
workshop focussed on the importance of knowing how
to handle conflict on and off the court and ways to use
it a valuable life tool. The Executive Council has planned more of these sessions in its quest to enhance the lives of these sportswomen of Barbados.
B.W.U. Cricket team
Ever since its formation in 1984, the Barbados Workers’
Union Cricket Team has brought credit to the organisation and the workforce, winning the Barbados Cricket
Association’s Intermediate Cup on two occasions and
reaching the finals in the BCA Second Division as recently as 2008 and 2010.
The B.W.U. Cricket Team, from its base at the B.W.U.
Labour College grounds at Mangrove, St. Philip, has
served as a cradle for a number of outstanding cricketers
from that parish, among them Derek Bishop who has
gone on to represent Barbados.
The Executive Council has used the Labour College as
a training ground for young cricketers particularly from
the neighbouring districts and schools like Princess Margaret; and this season under the coaching of Comrade
Roger Weekes who has been captain of the team over
the past decade, several young cricketers were drafted
into the team to represent the B.W.U. in the shorter version of the game in the BCA competition.
The Council will continue to use the Labour College
grounds as a cradle for honing the cricketing skills of
the young men from the neighbouring districts.
The team was hosted by Mrs. Brenda Price and the All
Sectors Netball League. The team got the opportunity
to play against teams that comprised members of the
Trinidad and Tobago senior national team and All Stars
Team. A workshop on Conflict Resolution was held on Saturday, 14th July, 2012. This session was arranged for all
managers, players and officials who have shown an inTHE 71st ANNUAL REPORT ‘11 - ‘12 | 47
The 2012 Hotel and Restaurant Workers’ Week began
with the traditional thanksgiving service at the Nazarene
Church, Collymore Rock, St. Michael on Sunday August
5.
The service was attended by officials of the Barbados
Workers’ Union led by the President General, Comrade
Linda Brooks and General Secretary, Senator Sir Roy
Trotman.
Suckoo; the Minister of Commerce and Trade, Senator
the Honourable Haynesley Benn and Mrs. Benn; Mr.
Hugh Riley, Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation; Dr. Jean Holder, Chairman of LIAT;
President of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, Patricia Affonzo Das and Mrs Sue Springer, Executive Vice President of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism
Association.
Invitees included, Reverend Dr. Sir Wesley Hall; the
Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Richard Sealy; the
Minister of Labour, Dr. the Honourable Esther Byer-
The week of activities continued on Wednesday, August
8th with the Scenic Bus Ride across Barbados and the
Dinner and Show at “Solidarity House” on Saturday, August 11.
Comrade LeVere Richards (left), Staff Coordinator of the BWU Council
of Hotel and Restaurant Workers presents Pastor David Holder of the
Nazarene Church with a monetary donation.
Reverend Dr. Sir Wesley Hall (right) chats with Sir Roy Trotman, BWU
General Secretary, following the thanksgiving service at the Church of the
Nazarene, Collymore Rock.
The congregation giving praise during the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Workers’
thanksgiving service.
Chapter 7
Students perform on stage at the BWU Labour College, St. Philip,
during the opening ceremony of the 2012 Errol Barrow Day.
Regional Seminar
THE BARBADOS WORKERS’ UNION Youth Arm hosted its 4th Annual Regional Youth Seminar, at the Labour
College from October 17th to 21st, 2011. The seminar
was preceded by a thanksgiving service, which was held
at the St. Philip Parish Church on Sunday, October 16th
2011 and attended by the Youth Arm’s Executive Committee, B.W.U. staff members and regional participants.
Fifty-one (51) participants, comprising thirty (30) from
the Youth Arm, and twenty-one (21) from within the
region, attended the workshop.
YOUTH ARM
Country
Antigua
Bahamas
Bermuda
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
St. Marteen
St. Vincent &
The Grenadines
Trinidad & Tobago
Total
Person
(s)
4
1
2
1
1
4
1
4
3
21
During the week, the participants were engaged in the
study of a range of subjects which included: Productivity Basics, Introduction to Industrial Relations, Resolving
Conflict, Challenges Facing Youth/Reconnecting with
Youth. In the group work session, Comrade Dwaine
Paul challenged each working group to formulate an
Action Plan and Resolution for the continued training,
development and collaboration of young trade unionists
within the region.
The following are excerpts from the statements made by
some of the our Regional participants:
Marcianne Roberts – St. Vincent & The Grenadines:
“It was an awesome week, very educational and much
fun; never a dull moment. Many thanks go out to the
B.W.U.Y.A for the opportunity to meet such wonderful
people throughout the region.”
Shonnon Bedminister – Dominica: “It was in fact very
educational and the members of the B.W.U.Y.A, I must
say were the “bestest” hosts ever!! Special thanks again
for a job well done!!!!!”
Renee Jones – Bermuda: “The experience has certainly
broadened my awareness of the role that trade unions
play directly and indirectly in a country and how they
bring about positive changes when they are run effectively. The challenges in today’s world exceed any of
previous eras. Hence, Union officials must constantly
upgrade their skills in order to stay abreast of changing
trends in the world of industrial relations.
The B.W.U.Y.A put together a great programme to deal
with the topics that are relevant and timely. The information gathered and experience will not only be beneficial, but will also be necessary in helping me to better
understand the role I play within the union as a young
trade unionist.”
Kabilia Hollingsworth – Guyana: “It is my heartfelt belief
that the seminar achieved its short-term goal during the
five day seminar which was the:
1. Sensitisation and dissemination of credible information;
2. Knowledge on the role and work of regional trade
unions;
3. Knowledge on the role and work of the CCL and
ILO;
4. Knowledge on how to develop and improve regional
trade union solidarity;
5. Skills training – leadership, communication and
conflict resolution
Finally the long term goals of the seminar can only be
achieved by the implementation of what was learnt
through our respective unions across the Caribbean.”
Errol Barrow Day
The commencement of the Errol Barrow Day programme
for 2012 saw the reintroduction of the official flag raising ceremony by the Cadet Corps of the Garrison School
which greatly complemented the March pass and official
Salute to President General, Comrade Linda Brooks.
B.W.U. Chaplain, the Very Rev. Dr. Frank Marshall invited God’s blessings on the day’s proceedings during
the opening ceremony to pay tribute to four of Barbados’ National Heroes. Senator Jepter Ince delivered the
feature address on behalf of the Hon. Dr. David Estwick,
Minister of Agriculture who could not attend due to
illness. The centrepiece of the official opening ceremo-
BWU President General, Comrade Linda Brooks (right) lays a wreath onto the portrait of late BWU General Secretary, Rt. Excellent Sir Frank Walcott
during the Errol Barrow Day function at the BWU Labour College.
ny was the presentations made by the students of the
Union’s adopted schools namely, St. Martins Mangrove
Primary, Hindsbury Primary and Reynold Weekes Primary.
Youth Congress
Other sporting activities held on the day included a Netball competition organised by the B.W.U. netball team
and road tennis, sponsored by the B.W.U. Credit Union
as part of its “Get Health Campaign” partnership with
the B.W.U.Y.A.
The 9th Annual Youth Congress was held on 18th May,
2012 at “Solidarity House”. The Congress commenced
with the official opening ceremony, with the prayers being offered by Rev. Jerome Small and the feature address
delivered by Her Hon. Senator Kerry-Anne Ifill, President of the Senate. Senator Ifill in her inspiring address
concluded that the youth present were there because
they recognised the call for a cause. She stated, “A call
for young people. People to come together, people who
recognise that there is a cause that we must all strive
for - the cause for decent work, equal pay. The cause
for the recognition as young professionals, as young
people who have opportunities, who have contributions
to make to their societies, to their workplaces, young
people with responsibilities, with families to raise, with
parents to support, with community which needs us”.
Recognising the responsibility of its parent as the leading Trade Union to assist in the development of small
and medium enterprises, the B.W.U.Y.A extended an
invitation to small business owners to set up booths to
promote their products or services.
The business section included several presentations,
such as the National Insurance Scheme and a very informative and interactive session on the Employment
Rights Act 2012, presented by the Minister of Labour,
Dr. the Hon. Esther Byer-Suckoo.
The Council is pleased with the continued growth of the
Errol Barrow Day programme, primarily the linkage being cultivated by the B.W.U.Y.A within the community
and society.
The election for the new committee was conducted and
the newly elected committee for the year 2012-2013 is
as follows:
In an effort to widen its involvement in the community and foster greater partnerships with the youth, the
Youth Arm staged a Seven-a-side Football Challenge
Trophy competition which drew participants from the
Union’s divisions, the community and from the B.W.U’s
adopted school, the Princess Margaret Secondary. The
tournament shield was won by Young Gunners.
Nation Fun Walk
The B.W.U. for many years has been in the forefront
of educating the masses on the impact and prevention
of non-communicable diseases. It was therefore fitting
when the B.W.U.Y.A. supported the efforts of the Diabetes Association of Barbados at the Nation Fun Walk.
The B.W.U.Y.A sought to sensitise the public, particularly the youth, on juvenile diabetes Type 1.
Youth Seminar
The Youth Arm is very much committed to the education of its members, primarily in areas of direct concern to them. In holding fast to this commitment, the
B.W.U.Y.A. organised a young workers’ seminar from
14th May – 17th May 2012 which targeted young workers and shop stewards who have shown an interest in
trade union participation. The seminar covered: History of the B.W.U., Organising, Introduction to Industrial Relations, Grievance Handling, Overview of Labour
Legislation in Barbados, Resolving Conflict and Problem
Solving, and Gender Issues for Young Workers. The
programme was very well received by all participants.
Executive Committee:
President Vice President Secretary Asst. Secretary Treasurer Asst. Treasurer PRO: Asst. PRO: Educational &
Cultural Officer: Asst. Educational &
Cultural Officer: - Comrade Dwaine Paul
- Comrade Allison Howell
- Comrade Victoria Husbands
- Comrade Mandy Springer
- Comrade Shonica Piggott
- Comrade Troy Gill
- Comrade Manuel McClean
- Comrade Rondy Sobers
- Comrade Deanndre Clement
- Comrade Damien Durant
Floor members:
Comrade Michael Barker
Comrade Kerwyn Vaughan
Comrade Corey Shockness
Comrade Keno Rollins
Comrade Ryan Beckles
Chapter 8
AFFILIATIONS
INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT WORKERS’ FEDERATION
UNION NETWORK INTERNATIONAL
During the past year, the Executive Council of the Barbados Workers’ Union collaborated with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the Global
Union Federation which represents workers in all the
sectors of transport.
This collaboration included the hosting of a number of
workshops at the Labour College which sought to develop the skills of ITF Caribbean affiliates. The project
concluded in the second half of the year with a regional
seminar at the Labour College which evaluated the project and submitted recommendations to the ITF for the
future.
The Executive Council is pleased to report that as a result, ITF Caribbean affiliates will soon be armed with
copies of a collective bargaining manual which was developed by regional trade unionists taking part in the
project.
Additionally, the Union has been part of an ITF survey
of Women in the Bus Industry through the involvement
of Comrade Wilma Clement, the ITF Vice President for
Women on the Road Transport Committee. The information from this survey which tracked women bus drivers and conductors throughout all ITF affiliates, is being used to develop best practices and case studies for
organising women and negotiating conditions of service.
The Executive Council is satisfied that the BWU showed
unwavering solidarity and took part in ITF campaigns
on behalf of unions and union members who had been
penalised and/or seriously threatened for their trade
union activities.
The Executive Council notes the mutually beneficial
relationship between the ITF and the Union and looks
forward to working more closely with that organisation
in the coming year.
BWU General Secretary Comrade Senator Sir Roy Trotman (r) introduces UNI General Secretary, Philip Jennings to the press. From left
to right are Joanne DeFreitas, Lashon Sawyer and Kavan Gale.
During the period, 5th-6th July 2012, the Barbados
Workers’ Union hosted Union Network International
(UNI) General Secretary, Comrade Philip Jennings, and
UNI Americas new Regional Secretary, Adriana Rosenzvaig who visited Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago to
offer support to affiliate members in those two countries
and share information.
The meeting in Trinidad and Tobago brought regional
Telecommunications Unions together while the focus of
the Barbados meeting was Finance. UNI Global Union
represents 20 million workers through 900 affiliated
unions, in Cleaning and Security; Commerce; Finance;
Gaming; Graphical and Packaging; Hair and Beauty;
ICTS; Media, Entertainment and Arts; Post and Logistics; Social Insurance; Sport; Temp and Agency Workers
and Tourism industries.
While in Barbados, Comrade Jennings met with Executive Management of the CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank and
held strategic discussions regarding the direction of future priorities for UNI affiliates which include Organising and the institution of Framework Agreements under
UNI’s global “Breaking Through in the Caribbean” strategy.
The Telecommunications Unions expressed concern
with the proliferation of contract work in the sector
which excludes large numbers of staff members from the
benefits to be derived from the collective agreements. In
Finance, the major challenge identified was the threat
of job losses resulting from the seemingly ever-present
restructuring, mergers, takeovers and other measures in
the sector.
Problems with trade union recognition, the on-going
privatisation of public social services, and the poor
working conditions of Private Security workers were
also cause for concern.
The UNI General Secretary lamented the fact that G4S,
the largest security firm in the world, had signed agreements with UNI Global Union on how workers should
be treated through its worldwide operations, but the
Barbados operation was not complying with what was
internationally agreed. The British trade union leader
said that the G4S actions were “not acceptable” and he
would pursue the matter with the parent body upon his
return to Europe.
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF FOOD AND ALLIED
WORKERS
The International Union of Food and Allied Workers
[I.U.F.] has an excellent record of Trade Union work for
its colleagues in the Caribbean. While there is no denying the fact that there has been a fall off in activities, yet
it is fair to say that the region continues to enjoy a good
relationship with the Headquarters.
The Executive Council is aware that the General Secretary of the I.U.F., Brother Ron Oswald is due to visit the
region shortly. The B.W.U. looks forward to planning
together another body of activities for the region, especially in Agriculture and in Tourism.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION
CONFEDERATION
The I.T.U.C., formerly the International Confederation
of Free Trade Unions [I.C.F.T.U.], remains at the centre
of the International Trade Union family for the Barbados
Workers’ Union.
which were able to contribute to the I.T.U.C. International Solidarity Fund and, at the same time, there have
been requests for help from many countries with large
membership but with little means of functioning without international solidarity.
Even so, the B.W.U. still considers this fraternal relationhip as critical to the success of the B.W.U. both at
home and abroad. As a result, the Executive Council has
sought to have Deputy General Secretary, Comrade Julian Hunte, replace Sir Roy as the I.T.U.C. Vice President
for the Caribbean. This has been confirmed effective October 2011.
Regarding the I.T.U.C. Regional Office, better known to
most as ORIT, the B.W.U. continues to participate in
this region’s activities, although these are often challenging because most of the communication is in Spanish. At
the last Congress of this body, staff member, Comrade
Gillian Alleyne was elected to the Executive of the Young
Workers Committee.
CTUSAB
The Executive Council of the B.W.U. maintains that
what is critical for the welfare of the working man and
woman today is a vision of Peace, Justice, Equality and
Democracy unimpaired by petty attempts to gain personal aggrandisement. The work which CTUSAB set itself several years ago is work yet to be completed; but
much greater effort is required. The Congress missed
several vital opportunities to have its voice heard on
critical issues during the year.
Also in the period the Congress embarked on some journeys, one of which is still ongoing, to challenge the bona
fides and the acquired position which the B.W.U. gained
by exemplary service rendered by it to the working class
of Barbados. That was unfortunate.
CTUSAB’s support from the B.W.U. has well surpassed
that from any other source. The B.W.U. will continue
the effort to have CTUSAB grow and shine, including
through the excellence of its own contribution.
The B.W.U. however expects that its positions and levels of commitment will be matched and its dedication
equalled.
The level of support for Barbados and for the rest of the
Caribbean has been reduced over time because there
has been a steady fall off in membership in those unions
Gone But Not Forgotten
George Butcher
1943 - 2012
Wynell Wrightson Worrell
1938 - 2012
On Thursday, March 17, Comrade George “Spencer”
Butcher was laid to rest at his beloved St. Mark’s Anglican Church, St. Philip.
It was on the morning of Saturday, May 5, 2012 that the
Executive Council of the Barbados Workers’ Union bade
its final farewell to Comrade Wynnell Wrightson Worrell, late Stenographer and Secretary.
Comrade Butcher, 69, worked in the latter years of his
life, at Three Houses Plantation. First joining the Union
in 1965, he served until 2008 when he retired from
work, serving during those 43 years as a Shop Steward
on behalf of sugar and agricultural workers and as one of
the longest serving members of the Executive Council.
Comrade Worrell, who was “counsellor” to the staff and
“Ma Ma” to the many children of the staff, whom she
claimed as her own, gave to the B.W.U. and the workers
of this country 36 years of faithful service.
Butcher was steadfast in his attendance and participation in the affairs and activities of the Barbados Workers’
Union and based on the tributes which have been given
in his honour, the same community-spiritedness and
allegiance to fair-play which characterised his Union
work, were clearly also evident in the other institutions
he also held dearly; namely, his church, family, community, and politics.
May he rest in peace and rise in glory!
During her near four decades as an employee of the
B.W.U. she served as Secretary to trade union officers
including Comrades Lester Greene, LeVere Richards,
Sir Roy Trotman, and latterly the Honourable Robert
Morris. Her excellent people skills, essential for the efficient functioning of an organisation like the trade union,
placed her among the most valued staff members.
Among the accomplishments of the Union she cherished
the fact that, during her tenure, it recorded phenomenal
growth, both in terms of the numbers and the diversity
of its membership, the role it has been playing nationally, regionally and internationally and the honours that
have been bestowed on its leadership.
The esteem with which Comrade Worrell was held for
her dedication to duty by the broad union membership,
staff, Executive Council and employees with whom she
interfaced, was evident in the positive outpourings on
the occasion of her retirement in 2003 and her funeral
service nine years later.
May she rest in peace and rise in glory!
Sandra Ansonia Thompson née Osbourne
1971 – 2012
Sonia Foster
1962 - 2011
The Executive Council of the Barbados Workers’ Union
mourns the loss of Comrade Sandra Thompson, formerly of the Kentucky Fried Chicken Weekly Division
[KFC].
The Executive Council of the Barbados Workers’ Union
joined with the Barbados Tourism Authority to mourn
the sudden death of Comrade Sonia Foster.
Her first interaction with the Union was as a Shop Steward, a position in which she served from January 1995,
holding the post many of those years as Secretary of the
Division as she undertook her duties with a level of seriousness and commitment. She is remembered as one
who was always deliberate and organised in her functions, both as employee and Union Shop Steward.
Sandra could often be heard encouraging other Shop
Stewards and workers to go to the Labour College and
undertake programmes as she felt that education was
paramount to workers’ furtherance of their own defence.
She is remembered as one who displayed genuine
warmth, and showed enthusiasm for education and any
other activity which could improve her professional
competencies.
The Executive Council remembers Comrade Foster as
a faithful attendee to Annual Delegates’ Conference, attending as recently as last year. She was noted for her
early arrival at Union functions and she often stayed for
the duration of the event.
May she rest in eternal peace.
She will be missed. May she find sweet rest in the arms
of the Saviour.
Others who must be placed on the list of those
whom we love but see no more include:
Shawn Lyte - Big B Supermarket
Gerald Forde - Barbados Postal Service
Terrance Clarke - Preconco
John Stuart - Andrews Factory
Austin Brathwaite - Barbados Port Inc.
Horace Ramsey - Barbados Port Inc.
Enid Doyle - Barbados Port Inc.
Stephen Brooks - Grand Barbados
Waveney Branch-Brathwaite - Child Care Board
Mona Reid - Scotiabank
Beryl Hurley - Abeds
Maxine Prescott-King - Woolworth
Torriano Simmons - UWI
Alvene Cyrus - Coles Printery
Silfred Sylvester “Shakie” Harris - SAS
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
OFFICERS
LINDA BROOKS: President General
CAROL BOYCE
NEVILLE KIRTON: Vice Presidents
BYRON JACKMAN
WASHBROOK BAYNE: Treasurer
SIR ROY TROTMAN, K.A.
: General Secretary
MEMBERS
BEVERLEY BECKLESALLISON HOWELL
MERVYN BLACKMANSHAWN KNIGHT
MADELEINE BLENMANKIRK MARVILLE
WESLEY CHASEGREGORY MAUGHN
HEATHER COWARD-DOWNESDENESE MORGAN
JEFFREY GRANTKIM MOSELEY
HOWARD GRIFFITHGERARD PRESCOD
MILTON GRIFFITHDESMOND ROACH
CARLTON HOPEWINSTON ROACH
TRUSTEES
LEMUEL DANIEL ALWYN TULL HUGH ARTHUR
STANDING COMMITTEES
Finance and General Purposes Committee
LINDA BROOKS (Chairperson)
LEMUEL DANIEL
WASHBROOK BAYNEALWYN TULL
NEVILLE KIRTONHUGH ARTHUR
BYRON JACKMANMADELEINE BLENMAN
SIR ROY TROTMANCAROL BOYCE
Building Advisory and Monitoring Committee
WASHBROOK BAYNE (Chairperson)
VERE ROCK (Convenor)
KIM INNISSICILMA JOHNSON
LEMUEL DANIELHOWARD GRIFFITH
Youth Arm
DWAINE PAUL (President)SHAWN KNIGHT
ALLISON HOWELL (Vice President)
SADIE AUSTIN
VICTORIA HUSBANDS (Secretary)
MALINA JOSEPH
MARNDINE SPRINGER (Assistant Secretary)
JOHN HAREWOOD
SHONICA PIGGOTT (Treasurer)
KEISHA BROWNE
TROY GILL (Assistant Treasurer)
REYNALDO DEPEIZA
MANUEL McCLEAN (PRO)RENEE LUCAS
RONDY SOBERS (Asst. PRO)
KEVIN AUSTIN
DEANDRE CLEMENT (Education and Cultural Officer) ADRIAN WAITHE
DAMIAN DURANT (Asst. Education and Cultural Officer)
COREY SHOCKNESS (Floor Member)
MICHAEL BARKER (Floor Member)
KERWYN VAUGHAN (Floor Member)
KENO ROLLINS (Floor Member)
RYAN BECKLES (Floor Member)
Retired Members’ Committee
SYLVIA ALLEYNE (Joint Chairperson)
GILLIAN ROBINSON
RICHARD NIGHTENGALE (Joint Chairperson)
MYRNA SQUIRES
JUNE NURSE (Joint Vice Chairperson)
LORRAINE JEMMOTT
FERDINAND HARDING (Joint Vice Chairperson)
WILFRED BRATHWAITE
ALPHE BRATHWAITE (Secretary)
MARJORIE BOURNE
PATRICIA CHELTENHAM (Assistant Secretary)
MONSELLE ALLEYNE
RYEBURN PHILLIPSSHEILA HEADLEY
DOLORES HUNTEDEIGHTON SMITH
EILEEN CUTTINGTREVOR ALLEYNE
ELAINE JONESERIC COLLYMORE
MARIE MORRISKEITH SCOTT
FRANK HOWARDOLIVER WILLIAMS
WILMA TROTMAN RUTH LEWIS
CARL AUSTINEDNA CULPEPPER
SIGNA BRATHWAITE MARGARET BELLAMY
RUDOLPH LORDDALTON JACKMAN
EULENE HURLEYMARTIN TUDOR
PHILESIA GILKES
PATRICIA PILGRIM
Political Action Committee
GREGORY MAUGHN (Chairperson)
AUGUSTUS SEARLES
DALTON MEDFORDMARK CADOGAN
KIM INNISSCAROL BOYCE
WASHBROOK BAYNEBASIL MAUGHAN
NEVILLE KIRTONKIRK MARVILLE
HENDERSON KINGDENESE MORGAN
CECIL ALLEYNELOUISA NURSE
GEORGE BUTCHERCAMERON SEALY
TREVOR BESTDAVE LYNTON
CECILIA WILLIAMSSHERPHINE HOWELL
MICHAEL RAYCEDRIC NELSON
JEFFREY GRANTJEFFERSON NICHOLLS
JOSEPH SKEETEANDREW GRANT
GERARD PRESCODDEXTER YOUNG
CECIL RILEYEVERETTE BRANCH
DALTON JACKMANPATRICK BLUNTE
MICHAEL BRYANGRANTLEY GREEN
WESLEY FORDEMERVYN BLACKMAN
Organising Committee
CAROL BOYCE (Chairperson)
HOWARD GRIFFITH
WESLEY CHASEKIM MOSELEY
SONIA MOOREMARCIA TAYLOR
ANITA SEALYMARIA VICTOR
BEVERLEY BECKLESMICHAEL RAY
CARLOS MOOREPATRICK BLUNTE
ALPHONZA POLLARDSAMUEL KING
DONOVAN BENNETTSANDRA ALLEYNE-DANIEL
EDWARD HERBERTSANTONIA WALROND
GLENDINE LEWISWINSTON ROACH
HEATHER COWARD-DOWNESZETA BRIDGEMAN
HENRY CODRINGTON
Special Events’ Committee
BYRON JACKMAN (Chairperson)
SHANNON REID
LINDA BROOKSVERE ROCK
ETHRILL CRICHLOWGLORIA GILKES
GREGORY MAUGHNHEATHER COWARD-DOWNES
WASHBROOK BAYNEJULIET POLLARD
MADELEINE BLENMANMARSHA GREENIDGE
WESLEY CHASEORLANDO SCOTT
Gender Equality Committee
PAMELA MORRIS-GREENIDGE (Chairperson)
LINDA BROOKSJACQUELINE PHILLIPS
BEVERLEY BECKLESCARL IFILL
CATRIONA JULIENESTHER BLENMAN-IFILL
ETHRILL CRICHLOWANDREW GRANT
EUCENE BAYNEGLORIA GILKES
ERLA ELIBOXHEATHER COWARD-DOWNES
WESLEY CHASECLIVE ADAMS
MADELEINE BLENMANBARRY WEEKES
MARCIA TAYLORCHERYL ANN DALEY
MERVYN BLACKMANBEVERLEY HOWELL-MAYERS
EDWIN BRADSHAWMICHELLE ARTHUR
RAWLE GRAHAMIVAN PUCKERIN
HARRIETTA SIMPSON-GREENE
Education Committee
BEVERLEY BECKLES (Chairperson)
SHARON CRAWFORD
ANNETTE QUIMBY (Vice Chairperson)
EDWIN SKEETE
JACQUELINE PHILLIPS (Secretary)
CAMERON LAYNE
MILTON GRIFFITHCEDRIC NELSON
WASHBROOK BAYNEHOWARD GRIFFITH
BASIL MAUGHNEMERSON BASCOMBE
TREVOR ALLEYNEANGELA DURANT
BEVERLEY HOWELL-MAYERS MARVA HARRISON
ROSEANN MAYNARDBRIAN ABOAB
PETER BRITOEUDINE SELMAN
JACQUELINE KELLMANMERVYN BLACKMAN
ORRIE BROOMESRYAN BOWEN
MELISSA SMALLEULEONE STRAKER
KARRYN BRATHWAITELEMUEL DANIEL
EMERSON LEACOCKANTHONY SEALY
A man sooner or later discovers that he is the master-gardener of his soul,
the director of his life.
— James Allen
Occupational Safety and Health and the Environment Committee
NEVILLE KIRTON (Chairperson)
NIGEL BELGRAVE
BYRON JACKMANMORRIS OLIVER
WESLEY CHASEUWINE DOMINIQUE
MICHAEL ADAMSMERTON NICHOLLS
KEMAL CHARLESJUNIOR ROCK
KIM LASCELLESJAMES HUNTE
MICHAEL ALLEYNEKIM MOSELEY
EDWIN BRADSHAWADOLPHUS HURDLE
LARONNE DOUGLASMARSHA GREENIDGE
CARDINE TROTMANSEAN SCOTT
TYRONE EDWARDSMARK WATSON
MARK ROACH
MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
The Executive Council held 13 meetings up to and including that of 7th August 2012.
Comrade Toni Moore, Director of Administration, Barbados Workers’ Union outlines the programme during the Executive Council
and Staff Retreat at the Labour College.
ADMINISTRATION
The Executive Council wishes to report further that there have been certain staff changes already made, or
awaiting implementation which were determined in an effort that the Union would prepare itself without
any hiatus to render consistently sound advice and levels of representation of which all may be proud. In
every Department where this is now possible, efforts were made properly to prepare for succession. The
Council is satisfied that those plans are well in hand and that the Administration is ready for the future.
HEADQUARTERS
Sir Roy Trotman
Vere Rock
Julian Hunte
Mrs Veronica Griffith
Miss Toni Moore
: General Secretary
: Deputy General Secretary-Financial Controller
: Deputy General Secretary-Director of Industrial Relations
: Deputy General Secretary-Director of Research
: Deputy General Secretary - Director of Administration
Mrs Evette Gibson
: Senior Assistant General Secretary-Personnel Manager
Orlando Scott
: Senior Assistant General Secretary-Public Relations
and Occupational Safety and Health
Miss Yvonne Walkes
: Senior Assistant General Secretary-Industrial Counsellor
LeVere Richards
: Industrial Relations Consultant
Mrs Anne Dottin
: Senior Assistant General Secretary-Finance
Clifford Mayers
: Assistant General Secretary-Industrial Relations
Mrs Doreen Deane
: Assistant General Secretary-Research
Mrs Gillian Alleyne
: Assistant General Secretary-Research,
Planning and Programming
Miss Katrina Browne
: Research Officer
Mrs Krista Atherley
: Assistant General Secretary-Administration
Dwaine Paul
: Assistant General Secretary-Deputy Director of
Industrial Relations
Miss Destry Jones
: Assistant General Secretary - Accounts
David Giles
Mrs Juliet Pollard
Miss Nancy Solomon
: Senior Industrial Relations Officer
Miss Dionne Howard
Miss Lisa Holder
Sean Scott
Ms Roslyn Carrington
Miss Sindy Green
Miss Wynnell Taylor
Mrs Marsha Greenidge
Miss Gloria Gilkes
: Industrial Relations Officer
: Senior Secretary
: Secretary II
: Marketing/Assistant Public Relations Officer
: Senior Clerk
Miss Noreen Boxill
Miss Trecia Clarke
Miss Mateeka Kirton
Miss Sonia Lewis
Miss Shakera Daniel Ronald Stanford
Miss Catherine Jordan
Miss Eileen Seale
: Clerical Officer
: Receptionist/Clerical Officer
: Office Assistant
: Office Attendant
David Best
Anthony Husbands
: General Worker
John Parris
Winston Green
: Security Officer
Labour College
Ulric Sealy
Miss Wilma Clement
Miss Coreen Gibson
: Deputy General Secretary-Principal
Adolphus Hurdle
Mrs Cynthia Collymore
Ms Doreen Weekes
Mrs Marcia Small-Burrowes
Mrs Serena Browne
Miss Colleta Pilgrim
Miss Sheila King
: Maintenance Supervisor
: Assistant General Secretary-Tutor
: Kitchen Supervisor
: Assistant Kitchen Supervisor
: Secretary
: Clerical Officer
: Maid/Server
Elwardo Coppin
Arley Callender: Gardener
Cedric Straughn: Groundsman
Arthur Weekes
: Security Officer
Staff Promotions
Julian Hunte
Deputy General Secretary - Director of Industrial Relations effective 1 February 2012
Toni Moore
Deputy General Secretary - Director of Administration
effective 1 April 2012
Dwaine Paul Assistant General Secretary - Deputy Director of Industrial Relations effective 1 February 2012
Sindy Greene
Senior Secretary effective 1 January 2012
Destry Jones Assistant General Secretary - Accounts effective 1 January 2012
Wynnell Taylor
Secretary II from 1 January 2012
Katrina Browne
Research Officer effective 1 April 2012
Lisa Holder
Industrial Relations Officer effective 1 April 2012
Sean Scott
Industrial Relations Officer effective 1 April 2012
Staff Appointments and Transfers
Nancy Solomon
Appointed Senior Industrial Relations Officer effective
1 January 2012
Shakera Daniel Appointed Receptionist/Clerical Officer effective 1 April 2012
Sonia Lewis Appointed Clerical Officer effective 1 April 2012
Tricia Clarke
Appointed Clerical Officer effective 1 July, 2012
Arthur Weekes Appointed Security Officer effective 1 April 2012
Winston Green
Appointed Security Officer effective 1 January 2012
Sherrol Morris
Appointed Watchman (Part-time) (Hempstead) effective
2 April 2012
Gillian Alleyne
Transferred to Research, Planning and Programming
effective 1 April 2012
Temporary Appointments
Marsha Stanford
Clerical Officer (Temporary) from 1 April 2012
Terminations of Service
Retirement
The Honourable Robert Morris, CHB, GCM Atlee Williams (Security Officer)
Carl Harewood (Security Officer)
:retired early with effect from 1 December 2011
:retired with effect from 1 April 2012
:retired with effect from 1 January 2012
Resignation
Sean Daniel
Trevor Hamlet
:resigned with effect from 4 May 2012
:resigned with effect from 6 January 2012
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
SIR ROY TROTMAN
General Secretary
International Trade Union Confederation
: Vice President
Working Committee to Examine
International Maritime Dangerous
Goods Code: Member
Tripartite Consultative Committee on
Labour Market Issues: Member
Prominent Persons Committee to Assist
In Resolution of Sports Disputes
: Member
Barbados Task Force on Functional
Co-operation with Organisation of Eastern
Caribbean States: Member
United Commercial Autoworks Limited
: Chairman
Pollydore Research Institute (Guyana)
: Member
VERE ROCK
Deputy General Secretary-Financial Controller
Congress of Trade Unions and Staff
Associations of Barbados: Trustee
National Insurance Board: Member
ULRIC SEALY
Deputy General Secretary-Principal of Labour College
National Scholarship Committee
: Member
International Federation of Workers’
Education Associations
: Member, Executive Committee
EURO-WEA Study Circle
: Caribbean Area Leader
Technical and Vocational Education and Training Board
: Member
Advisory Committee for Industry Services,
Barbados Community College
: Member
Trade Union Education Institute
: Member, Advisory Committee
VERONICA GRIFFITH
Deputy General Secretary-Research
Barbados Investment and Development Corporation
: Member
IUF (Agricultural) Trade Group Board
: Member
Caribbean Regional Office IUF
: Alternate Member
EVETTE GIBSON
Senior Assistant General Secretary-Personnel Manager
Shops Wages Council: Member
ORLANDO SCOTT
Senior Assistant General SecretaryPublic Relations and Occupational Safety and Health
BIDC Risk Analysis & Monitoring Committee for
Control of Industrial Development
: Member
National Advisory Committee on Occupational
Safety and Health: Member
AIDS Foundation of Barbados Inc.
: Secretary
National HIV/AIDS Commission
: Member
National Commission on Chronic
Non-Communicable Disease: Member
Communication Circle, National Initiative
for Service Excellence: Member
LEVERE RICHARDS
Industrial Relations Consultant
Appeal Tribunal, National Insurance Board
: Member
Barbados Tourism Association
: Member
IUF (HRCT) Trade Group Board (Caribbean)
: Member
Ministry of Tourism/OAS Working
Group for Barbados: Member
JULIAN HUNTE
Deputy General Secretary-Industrial Relations
: Member
Barbados Vocational Training Board
: Member
TONI MOORE
Deputy General Secretary- Administration
/Executive Assistant to the General Secretary
National Productivity Council
: Member
Union Network International
(Americas Youth Committee): President
ANNE DOTTIN
Assistant General Secretary-Finance
: Member
DOREEN DEANE
Assistant General Secretary-Research
National Conservation Commission
: Member
GILLIAN ALLEYNE
Assistant General Secretary-Research
National Housing Corporation
: Member
Trade Union Confederation of the
Americas Youth Committee: Member
CLIFFORD MAYERS
Assistant General Secretary-Industrial Relations
Transport Authority: Member
Advisory Committee, Division of Hospitality
Studies, Barbados Community College
: Member
Barbados Technical and Vocational
Education Training Council
: Member, Information Technology Lead Body
WILMA CLEMENT
Assistant General Secretary-Tutor
International Transport Workers’ Federation,
Road Transport Section
: Vice President for Latin America
and the Caribbean
DAVID GILES
Senior Industrial Relations Officer
Inter-American Group of World Executive of
Union Network International
: Substitute Member
JULIET POLLARD
Barbados Agricultural Management Company : Member
NANCY SOLOMON
National Petroleum Corporation
: Member
HUGH ARTHUR
Trustee
Severance Payment Tribunal: Member
PHILLIP BOSTIC
Tourism Advisory Council: Member
KEITH SEALE
: Member
RUTH PHILLIPS
Barbados Family Planning Association
: Member
MADELEINE BLENMAN
Shops Wages Council: Member
LEMUEL DANIEL
Trustee
Severance Payments Tribunal: Member
TREVOR ALLEYNE
Severance Payments Tribunal: Member
RUDOLPH LORD
Ministry of Labour’s AIDS Core Group
: Member
VERNON WATSON
Associate Member
Prisons After-Care Committee
: Member
ASHTON POLLARD
TVET Amenity Horticulture Lead Body
: Member
THANKS
The Executive Council places on record its heartfelt thanks to all and looks forward to continued support
and commitment of all those persons and organisations who assisted in the furtherance of the Union’s
programmes and policies.
............................................................................................
............................................................................................
Sir Roy Trotman K A Linda Brooks
General Secretary President General
Senator Sir Roy Trotman
(General Secretary)

71st Annual Report 2012 - Barbados Workers` Union

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