Submitted by BU’s most famous Anonymous family member
Recent developments across the globe and here home in Barbados have made it necessary for one to ask the question:
Has the central role of the trade unions in Barbados changed ? and; Who is really looking out for the basic rights of the workers?
News coming out of Britain and the United states have revealed a growing protectionist mode being adopted by the recently elected Barack Obama and Gordon Brown of the USA and Britain. In Britain the phrase British jobs for British workers has been uttered by British Prime Minister Brown first at his party convention, and then repeated again and again in public.
While in the USA President Obama is openly pushing a Buy American First slogan with his new stimulus plan. America’s money he says must be used to create American jobs. Interestingly both responses go against signed declarations by the respective countries; in the case of the U.K, – the EU Treaty of Freedom of Movement of Labour, and the WTO agreements on Globalisation and open markets of which the USA is a signatory. In both of these countries the workers have had the strong and public support of their trade unions and national strikes are now on the cards in Britain.
In Jamaica we see a similar step being taken by the union there – a strong challenge to government on the matter of immigrant labour,similarly in St Lucia with the government there taking the lead,and in Trinidad where their Construction group cried out against foreign companies getting contracts (namely the Chinese) and using foreign workers.
The world as we once knew it is changing and all over the Globe,leaders are shaking off the mantle of Globalisation and wrapping themselves in the blanket of Protectionism – and all that protectionism represents. Here in Barbados we are confronted with an unusual scenario however.
We have the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) borrowing money from China and as a Quid Pro Quo sacrificing Bajan jobs to the Chinese workers. I repeat this is a workers union albeit -representing public sector workers.
Next we have the most remarkable comments by the leadership of the Barbados Workers Union that Bajans who complain about the large influx of Guyanese workers here – whether legal or illegal – are engaging in ‘Guyanese bashing’ – and should cease and desist.
All the while the unemployment figures for Barbadian workers continue to climb,and the Guyanese workers continue to be employed. Chinese workers continue to be employed by the Four Seasons Resort and workers from all across the Caribbean,Jamaica,Trinidad,St Vincent and of course Guyana continue to pour in to this little tiny island.
Where is the outrage by the Unions?
Is the reward of the silence through the social partnership the reward of a Knighthood? Is the prime minster of Barbados also guilty of just ’empty rhetoric?’ The kindling has been laid, the kerosene has been poured and the match is about to be struck; Tell me,who is courageous enough to with hold the hand of the striker of the match?
Who is courageous enough to forget leaving a legacy for themselves,and to fight on behalf of their own people?
The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind,the answer is blowing in the wind.
The blogmaster invites you to join and add value to the discussion.