It is an open secret BU questioned the basis for conferring a Knighthood on Sir Roy Trotman by the government of Barbados. We support the social partnership which is comprised of government, private sector and trade unions even if we have done so with some apprehension through the years. Based on general feedback it is a partnership which has served Barbados well. In fact countries across the globe have studied and applauded the Barbados initiative. Conferring a Knighthood on Sir Roy who is the head of Barbados’ leading trade union, the Barbados Workers Union (BWU), has always been viewed as a conflict of interest by BU. Here is a man who has to sit across the collection bargaining table to negotiate the best terms for his members with the same government who rewarded him with a Knighthood.
The preamble should explain why an event staged by LIME Caribbean in January this year to ‘wined and dined’ labour leaders from nine trade unions and seven countries in the region is viewed with some suspicion by BU. Early this year the nine trade unionist were ‘wined and dined’ by LIME in what was described as ‘partnership building’. LIME formerly Cable & Wireless Ltd has been at logger heads with unions across the region linked to its efforts at organizational transformation in recent times. The process to date has been painful. In Barbados the Prime Minister had to intervene in a decision to close the call centre in Barbados. As far as we know this matter has fizzled despite the mouthings of Sir Roy and requests from the Prime Minister’s Office for LIME to reconsider.
BU appreciates there is merit in collaborating with trade unions across the Caribbean. LIME is a Pan-Caribbean company and the need to build partnerships with the respective unions must be seen as a priority to ensuring a stable industrial relations climate for the company. Additionally, lessons would have been learned from the First Caribbean International Bank experience which was very painful.
The question which we hope our media practitioners will ask LIME management – why is the initiative being led by new head of regional marketing and chairman of LIME Jamaica, Chris Dehring? Seems highly unusual such an initiative should be led by marketing. Perhaps there is a good explanation therefore let us hear it!
Another concern has been the lack of coverage given by local media to the ‘wining and dining’ event. It seems reasonable given the high profile of LIME in the region and the acrimonious posture it has endured with some regional unions (including the BWU) that the event in January should have been viewed as a big news story. Help us out here but BU has scoured the Internet for mention of the story locally with little success.
Here is what we believe.
LIME is one of the biggest spenders of advertising dollars in Barbados and the region. The current economic challenges has made the media patsies for LIME with the deep pockets to exploit. BU suggest the reason why the local media has been ‘dumb’ on this story is because it does not want to offend its cash cow.
Read the story which was carried in the Jamaica Gleaner in February 2010:
LIME fetes regional unions to strengthen links – Not a wage pact, says labour boss
Published: Wednesday | February 3, 2010
Three weeks ago, LIME Caribbean brought together labour leaders from nine trade unions and seven countries in the region in a move both the company and worker representatives are calling partnership building.
But one Jamaican union leader who journeyed to the secluded resort in Antigua for the talks and “wining and dining” on the LIME tab, is saying the outreach should not be seen as forerunner to any Caribbean-wide umbrella wage deal.
“There was no such agreement,” said Lambert Brown, president of the University and Allied Workers Union which, along with the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union, was involved in the Antigua talks.
“The company will follow up with national consultations and discussions with each trade union on the issue of specific collective bargaining agreements,” Brown told Wednesday Business.
The disclaimer appears to strengthen perceptions that the Caribbean confab, orchestrated by LIME’s new head of regional marketing and chairman of LIME Jamaica, Chris Dehring, was a move to woo the unions as part of the business’ growing public relations response to severe pressure from other telecommunications competitors in the region.
Brown is holding the line of the official communiqué from LIME’s Caribbean summit that the exercise was useful.
“This was a positive move by the company to come together with the unions in this dialogue,” Brown said in a joint statement issued by LIME and the unions.
“We have seen a new focus on consultation and respect for customer – both external and internal, and we look forward to a leadership that uses this to create a successful, winning company.”
In a jab at unnamed rivals to LIME, Brown added: “We saw signs of it during the meeting and left with the expectation that these signs, like streams, will grow into a mighty river, washing away the competition.”
Meanwhile, giving LIME’s rationale for the dialogue, the company’s chief executive officer, David Shaw, trumpeted the firm’s emerging marketing mantra of forging what it is describing as “a winning culture”.
“This is a critical first step towards employee engagement and creating a winning culture,” according to Shaw.
“The Partnership protocol is the start of a progressive and consultative process that will eventually reposition the business to customers, employees and the communities in which we operate.”
LIME has been engaged in a still-unfinished process to transform all aspects of its regional operations from standalone firms into one Caribbean corporate entity. Work is continuing, for example, driven out of its Miami Florida regional hub, to integrate the financial systems of all its Caribbean regional operations.
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.