Thank God the impasse between the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) and the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) is over. Barbadians were told yesterday evening that both sides arrived at an agreement which saw the withdrawal of charges made by the SSA, and the General Manager Stanton Alleyne being reinstated. Barbados Free Press posted their perspective on what turned out to be an embarrassment to the Dr. Don Marshall led SSA Board and by extension the Minister of Health David Estwick and the government of Barbados.
Last week Barbadians were reminded how easily a few individuals can threaten the health and prosperity of our small island. Mountains of garbage could be seen in key public spaces where Barbadians and tourists alike had to traverse. It seems inexcusable that the country has had to confront major industrial action twice in a six month period. This situation coincides with a government that has been installed for six months and has had to battle rising cost of living and a host of other issues.
What shall you say to get what you want? Sometimes you are like a fish out of water sometimes you are the clever crow – William Young
In light of the above, and given the prevailing economic conditions, and the declared commitment by the government of Barbados to root out corruption where it exist, Barbadians will see more and more skirmishes involving the two major unions. Last time we checked the BWU is twenty five thousand strong and the NUPW is eight thousand. Both unions represent a significant slice of the Barbados workforce. The 64 thousand dollar question is what can we do to protect the stable industrial relations climate which we boast of to all and sundry?
We have heard quiet calls in recent years for Barbados to roll out an Industrial Court. The model which our neighbour Trinidad and Tobago uses comes highly recommended. Sir Roy Trotman who leads Barbados biggest union has publicly resisted any attempt to install an industrial court in Barbados. From what we can recall his analysis of the situation is ‘if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it’. We have news for Sir Roy et al, IT IS BROKE! Our unions through the years have been led by men of superior breeding. However the current and future environment which unions will have to negotiate requires a shedding of redundant approaches.
The members of the union have evolved from field to knowledge workers. The private sector of Barbados has to mobilize in a highly competitive local, regional and global arena. A minor disruption in national productivity in the prevailing climate has the potential to negatively impact the economy, and very quickly. No longer should the success of Barbadian businesses have to depend on two Generals (Trotman & Clarke). There is simply too much at stake.
An Industrial Court in our opinion is better positioned to bring structure i.e. process and law to the business of managing industrial relations in Barbados. Our citizens now benefit from a higher standard of education. It should logically follow that we implement a system which can utilize modern methods contained in the art of negotiation and alternative dispute resolution. The opportunity for two or three people to destroy the economy of Barbados is not acceptable, no way no how. The Social Partnership has served its role as a public relations piece but a remodelling of the engine which drives the IR climate is required.
The BU household don’t have all the facts in the just concluded dispute between the NUPW and the SSA Board. The information we have suggest that ‘process’ was not followed, and secondly the sanitation workers rallied behind the union because of a ‘us and them’ mentality which the union bosses used to contrived the ridiculous situation of calling a strike to embarrass the country of Barbados. In life we have to make choices and the time has come for Barbados to unhinge itself from the fickle arrangement of two ‘generals’ having the power to destroy a country.
It is time for an Industrial Court to be set-up in Barbados.
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