Another Heather Cole Column – Something Happening
Stedson Wiltshire (Red Plastic Bag) gave a vivid description of what is seen on Kadooment Day in a calypso song entitled Something Happening. The joyful song presents a stark contrast to the sobering reality unfolding in Barbados. With a backdrop of Covid-19, the cause of labour unrest is deeply disturbing as it is related to changes in the Severance Pay Act and the refusal of some hotels to pay their potion of the workers’ severance pay. As the reality of this crisis sets in, anguish, lack of information, confusion and frustration confront a large section of the population and now a once docile people seem to be erupting. Protests have become a fixture on the landscape with 40% unemployed predominately in the tourism sector; no one knows how this will end but something is definitely happening.
There is no comparison in recent history to what is now unfolding. Complexity and growth of the economy makes it distinct from the 1930’s but it is noteworthy that there was no labour union to prevent the downward spiral that culminated in the 1937 riots in Barbados. Trade unionism came into existence after the riots to protect the rights of labour in 1941. What is mindboggling is that it was out of the struggle of the black working class that both the Barbados Workers Union (BWU) and the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) were conceived and born. Now the relationship is akin to 2 children abandoning their mother. This should never have become a matter of political expediency as the BWU depends on the black working class for financial support and the Barbados Labour party depends on the black working class (the largest voting group) for votes. The action of both has shown that they have joined forces and abandoned this class.
In contrast with the song, one can see questionable union actions. One can query the BWU’s agreement to the BEST Program as it offers less than favourable relief to the workers than to the hotels. The program provides financial assistance to hotels and a wage subsidy to workers but no severance. It was stated that only $30 Million of the $300 Million dollars has been taken by the hotels. Part of the remaining $ 270 Million dollars can be used as severance for the workers. Essentially the BEST program is fundamentally flawed as it does not contain a severance payment option.
One can also query why the recently held press conference only resulted in a solution for the workers of Club Barbados and did not take into consideration the thousands of other unemployed workers. What was required is an across the board solution for the hotel industry and any other affected industries. There were so many twists and turns regarding the story of the workers of Club Barbados that it is difficult to decipher but yet it does not justify treatment as a special case as it leaves out others whose plight is the same.
Both the Prime Minister and Ms. Moore chastised the Media but one cannot imagine how the secret of 40% unemployed in Barbados could be kept, not discussed or their protests not covered if they take to the streets. A fair Press is not the enemy of the people. Highlighting these stories humanized the suffering of the workers. They became real people with real problems and in need of real solutions. We all felt their pain. Change is never a factor that comes into play with silence or secrecy; with them ignorance pervades. What the media can do in addition to highlighting the protest is to utilize the top corner of the new paper to daily post unemployment numbers, NIS payouts as a show of solidarity with the workers and carry stories of how this crisis has affected individual persons and neighbourhoods.
One can see government as having created an environment for the lack of trust. The role of government in any democratic society is to provide an enabling environment for all to flourish. This is exhibited in the provision of social services and laws. When the Severance Payment Act was amended in August 2020, the reason for its changes and the why now could not be justified as it was the midst of the current pandemic. The changes now extend the layoff period from 13 to 22 weeks before they can file for severance and that employees must give 4 weeks notice to the employer prior to the end of the 22 weeks period. It also states that the employer can contest severance. It is a punitive amendment to the law and has led to much confusion and ultimately the amended act is disadvantageous as the underlying principle is to disqualify workers from obtaining severance payments. The level of confidence in the government with regards to the treatment to workers is now at an all-time low.
One can also see that this is not only an economic issue. It is also a matter of social justice. Less than favourable treatment has been meted out to one specific class of the population; the black working class. The same people who for almost 400 years have been feeling the brunt of what occurs in the Barbadian society. This class has the highest rate of unemployment, highest incidence of crime, the highest rate of minimum wages, have a high cost of living, poor housing, reduced access to potable water, are in need of proper roads and combined they pay the highest taxes. The only positive thing that they as a group possess is votes at election time. It is these same people who are in need and are being denied the money that should be theirs. One of the women, a former Club Barbados worker lamented that she feels like George Floyd with the weight of someone’s foot on her neck and that she could not breathe. Do their lives and livelihood matter?
One hopes that now we are in the post Nelson era, that governance comes with an aspect of social justice; that no decisions are made on the behalf of the people without consideration of how the disadvantaged black working class will be affected and that there will be a living wage, programs put in place not for pit toilets but for creating wealth to remove vicious the cycle of poverty. If the opportunity to create wealth can be provided to the already privileged it should also be provided to the black working class. The government saw it fit to compulsorily acquire property on Bay Street to give to a developer. It must also do the same for the black working class through co-operatives for agriculture, business development and housing. It is hoped that laws which still seem to be derived from the slave codes will be removed from the laws of Barbados. This is in reference to laws being written from the punitive point of view of ‘let us deny them that colonial mentality’; as though some things are still just too good for the black working class of Barbados.
The irony of these developments is that both the BWU and BLP have bitten the hand that feeds them.
Barbados Underground 
“ We have given up the demand for back pay, that is normally not what a trade union is about but we have decided to make that sacrifice because we have said to the Prime Minister and to G4S that we want not just G4S workers to come out ahead of this in circumstances where they can take home a living wage to their families, we want all security workers to have that same benefit.”(QUOTE)
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WHAT EMPLOYEE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TOTEM POLE FACING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AND WHO ARE VERY VERY LOW PAID WORKERS WOULD EACH GIVE UP THOUSANDS OF $$$?
THESE BLACK BAJANS HAVE BEEN SOLD OUT BY BOTH THE UNION AND BLP PRIME MINISTER TO THE BENEFIT OF G4S SOLELY.
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Early April fool joke
But might also be used as a front to ring the election bell
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Those poor G4S workers going to be in for a surprise
The Union all but handed their heads on a plate to G4S
No agreement was signed which would have forced G4S to stick by their promise
G4S is in the drivers seat and can renege on that promise and can if things get dicy between them and govt choose lay off workers
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@ Mariposa
@Baje
Watch out for redundancies. Now the company is going private, private equity owners used to be called asset strippers for a reason. Do you think a big US?UK company looking to make quick cash cares about a 14×21 island on the edge of the Caribbean?
Who is going to put in an offer to buy the local business?
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The PM will never be able to please you gloomers. She has two years and then the people will decide once more.
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@ Enuff December 11, 2020 12:47 PM
Since you are the ‘red-painted’ polymath on BU (much unlike the ‘know-it-all’ Hal with the Limey Condition) you should be able to explain, rather easily, how a non-negotiable commitment to introduce ‘Minimum Pay’ legislation within a “Mission Critical’ window of “SIX MONTHS” has morphed in a revolving door of 2 MONTHS shy of 3 YEARS?
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The PM will never be able to please you gloomers. She has two years and then the people will decide once more.
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YOU CALL BLACK BAJANS SECURITY GUARDS EACH LOSING THOUSANDS $$$ IN BACK PAY BEING SHAFTED BY MIA MOTTLEY AND G4S BEING A POSITIVE STEP?
NOW TALKING ABOUT A MINUMUM WAGE PROMISED ALMOST 3 YEARS AGO.
THE ONLY GLOOMER I SEE IS YOU WHO SEEM TO THINK EVERYONE WHO IS NOT PREACHING FROM MIA MOTTLEY AND THE BLP BIBLE ARE STUPID.
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G4S and striking employees have signaled they are happy with the settlement. Matter closed, next.
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G4S and striking employees have signaled they are happy with the settlement. Matter closed, next.
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CAN YOU BE KIND ENOUGH TO POST THE VIDEO SHOWING THE MANY EMPLOYEES OF G4S WHO EACH LOST THOUSANDS $$$ IN BACK PAY SAYING THAT THEY ARE HAPPY WITH THE AGREEMENT?
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Baje can show the video of the calculation that each worker would have gotten thousands of dollars?
Or where there was an agreement about them getting back pay?
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Baje can show the video of the calculation that each worker would have gotten thousands of dollars?
Or where there was an agreement about them getting back pay?
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IF YOU WERE FOLLOWING ON BACK PAY DEMANDS WAS ONE OF THE KEY AREAS WORKERS BEING SECURITY GUARDS WERE DEMANDING……
More than a year after threatening to take action if outstanding issues were not addressed, security officers at G4S Secure Solutions (Barbados) Ltd followed through on that promise.
Contending their employer was taking advantage of them, scores of workers went on strike today at the security company’s Brighton, Black Rock headquarters.
The workers said longstanding grievances such as a raise in pay and improved working conditions had still not been addressed.
Last October, following an over two-hour, closed-door meeting at Solidarity House, security officers gave their employer an ultimatum to fix the problems or face strike action.
At the time the major bones of contention were the fact that workers had not received a pay hike in over six years and that they were being paid less than the negotiated wage between the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) and the company.
https://barbadostoday.bb/2020/11/25/security-company-workers-down-tools/
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I see improve working conditions and a pay raise
The only time I see anything mentioned about back pay is when trotman said they give up that demand
Do you understand that in negotiations u do not get everything u want?
U usually start at a point and try to meet in the middle with a “win” for both parties
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I see improve working conditions and a pay raise
The only time I see anything mentioned about back pay is when trotman said they give up that demand
Do you understand that in negotiations u do not get everything u want?
U usually start at a point and try to meet in the middle with a “win” for both parties
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ST)P TALKING SHITE.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND “that they were being paid less than the negotiated wage between the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) and the company” FOR AT LEAST 6 YEARS.
NOW IF YOU ROB SOMEONE WHO IS POOR WORKING CLASS OF THOUSANDS $$$ OWED TO HIM/HER AND SAYS IT IS A WIN MUST BE ON SOME KIND OF HALLUCINATION DRUG.
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HERE IS SOME MORE INFORMATION SINCE I KNOW YOU LIKE A FISH SWALLOW ANYTHING THE BLP THROWS OUT TO YOU ON THEIR FISHING LINE:
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However, a source who attended the meeting told Barbados TODAY that workers were frustrated, with a salary increase owed for the last six years and back pay from 2016 outstanding.
“This problem with salary increases and back pay is a longstanding issue. The union told us that they had sent paperwork to G4S and were now waiting for them to sign it and return it. But some of the workers believe that this has been going on for too long and they are very upset about not being paid. Some of them said they were giving G4S a month and if they haven’t replied by then, they will take action,” the source told Barbados TODAY.
An officer who has been employed at the security company for almost a decade said the turnout for yesterday’s meeting demonstrated that her colleagues had had enough.
https://barbadostoday.bb/2019/10/11/restive-workers-2/
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@ Baje
Don’t be provoked. Even if they poked out the eyes of the guards some people will still say it was a ‘win’.
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@ Baje
Don’t be provoked. Even if they poked out the eyes of the guards some people will still say it was a ‘win’.
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@ Hal
I AM NOT PROVOKED.
IT AMAZES ME DAILY HOW SO MANY BLACK BAJANS WALLOW IN BLATANT STUPIDITY AND UNCARING FOR THEIR FELLOW BLACK MAN/WOMAN.
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Maybe the worker should leave bwu and have u negotiate for them
I keep tell u guys. The unions is not Toni or trotti. But the workers
If the workers don’t wanta give up the thousand of dollars (according to u) then the unions leaders couldn’t take that off the table .
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https://barbadostoday.bb/2019/10/11/restive-workers-2/
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Do you understand that that article is 2 months ago?
Do u u derstand the meaning to negotiations?
Do u understand that at the end of negotiations the workers gave up the rights to back pay?
( most likely to maintain the jobs of a few)
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No they do not understand the long game, the workers do.
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Baje
Ur can be approx 3k in back pay if the worker worked 40 hrs a week. It would be more if the worked OT. And less if they weren’t in a 40 hrs schedule
Now they are Garanteed 40hrs and a raise
So that’s at less 18283/ year with possibility of OT.
In these hard economics time which you think the workers would vote for
3000k back and possibility of some going home – to make up for the raise + back pay
Or at least 18k / yr for all
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The ones that were under paid were making 15433.60 /yr for a 40hrs week
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Baje
Ur can be approx 3k in back pay if the worker worked 40 hrs a week. It would be more if the worked OT. And less if they weren’t in a 40 hrs schedule
Now they are Garanteed 40hrs and a raise
So that’s at less 18283/ year with possibility of OT.
In these hard economics time which you think the workers would vote for
3000k back and possibility of some going home – to make up for the raise + back pay
Or at least 18k / yr for all
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ARE YOU A DIRECTOR OF G4S THAT YOU CAN GUARANTEE IN WRITING SOMETIME IN 2021 THAT SOME OF THESE SAME BLACK SECURITY GUARD MEN AND WOMEN WON’T BE SENT HOME AS A COST CUTTING MEASURE.
SINCE YOU ARE NOT SO STOP TALKING THROUGH YOUR ASS.
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The workers accepted, if they did not agree they would have called for strike action to continue.
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Baje you ar a big ass
in any company workers can go home at any point in time, 2021 or anytime after.
so you continue showing the ass you are.
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We will.know with certainty what the workers agreed on come Jan1st
The only voices heard were Mia the spokesperson for G4S and trotman
Not even Moore who should have been the main person in the negotiations said nothing on behalf of the workers
Jan and April gonna be two important months in the lives of bajan households
Private sector already crying about low sales and having to coughed up money not going to be pretty
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John 2 do not worry with the 3 degree jackass as he clearly does not understand negotiations.I do not know why you have to work for G4S to have basic common sense.What you posted makes sense to me and apparently the workers.Bottom line the hand waving despot has stepped up and show leadership from the front unlike the bellyachers preference in the ex PM and that does not suit their political agenda.They have another 2 years plus another 10 years to bray and bellyache because thst is all they can do.Most of them never run a bread shop far less a country.Who the hell what to hear any advive from them or elected them to be their spokesmen.Go take a flying leap bunch of jokers.
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In these hard economics time which you think the workers would vote for
3000k back and possibility of some going home – to make up for the raise + back pay
Or at least 18k / yr for all
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Baje you ar a big ass
in any company workers can go home at any point in time, 2021 or anytime after.
so you continue showing the ass you are.
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LOOK IN THE MIRROR TO SEE WHO IS THE REAL ASS.
EVEN THE WORDS YOU USE ARE CONTRADICTORY.
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Lorenzo
If i am correct that G4S are responsible for airport departure screenings then, with the treat of a national strike by BWU, the hand waving despot had to step up. or did she only step up cause she love the limelight?
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@ac
Trotman represented the BWU, is Tor head so hard?
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Baje yuh ass
if you did one of the workers which on would you vote for ?
the company can close down at any point in time and send home all the workers. when you negotiating you supposed to do so in “good faith”.
I was not in on the negotiations and do not know what promises/guarantees were given by any of the parties – beside what was published in the press.
So only a jack would not understand that i was speaking in general.
FYI – some of the workers can be sent home for cost cutting …..agreed
.BUT – if if some are sent home for cost cutting for only a raise then MORE would be sent home if the company have to pay both a raise and back pay.
ALSO
the same way some can be sent home – MORE can be hired and benefit from the agreement IF/When the economy turn around
so continue being the jackass you are. the 3 degree you bought were not worth the pennies you spent on then IMO
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This so called arrangement will fail when put to the test of reality
Unfortunately the workers have agreed to God only knows what
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@ john2December 11, 2020 6:17 PM
“the company can close down at any point in time and send home all the workers. when you negotiating you supposed to do so in “good faith”.”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Was that ‘Collective Bargaining’ principle also applicable when the unions representing the public sector workers were ‘in cahoots’ and demanded unrealistic salary increases of over 20% under the last administration who were fiscally up a creek without a ‘borrowed’ IMF paddle?
Wasn’t it also a trade-off between fiscally unaffordable salary increases and saving jobs which eventually turned out to be so by the same union players accepting a much lower increase of 4 to 5 % under the current administration despite the massive hike in the CoL?
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We have a disproportionate number of legal personnel in Barbados. Are none of them prepared to challenge what appears to be the underpayment of workers since 2014. Does G4S not have a legal right to back pay its workforce? Are Barbados employment laws sufficiently robust or are they not being enforced.
Has the government recently become cognisant of the travails of Barbados work force? Hal will often state that historically our governments have been incompetent rather then corrupt. The people of Barbados must bring to an end incompetent governments in Barbados. We cannot continue to reward corruption and mediocrity.
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@ Miller
THEY ARE TOO DECEPTIVE AND DISHONEST TO ANSWER TRUSTFULLY.
EVEN BOASTING THAT THE LOWLY PAID G4S BLACK WORKERS ARE PLEASED WITH LOSING THEIR BACK PAY OVER SEVERAL YEARS BUT NOT A VIDEO OR ARTICLE TO THAT EFFECT FROM SAID WORKERS.
THEY ARE THE TRUE EPITOME OF SNAKE OIL SALESMEN.
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Miller
i am tired saying here – everyone wanted to see the back of that DLP goverment.- IMO thats the most important factor in the refusal. there are also other reasons – like why the workers elected and backed akanni to represent them (which further streghten my first point). etc
The 20% was not a DEMAND – of was the first offer put on the table by the union/s to START negotiations.
If you want 10% that that DLP “repaid” themselves you aint going put an offer for 12%
Restoring their 10% is part of what the union took into consideration. ( that the gov wasnt really “up no creek”0
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Do you understand through your think skulls that the workers who sat arpound the table have agreed to the deal?
#jesus
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david
too much degrees hardened head
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miller
ALSO
the 20% increase was for 10 years of no increase.
if i remember correctly – the 5% was for one year ( which i expect now to be extended for a few more years)
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@ David,
You need to raise your bar from of the ground.
The story below may raise your eye brows.
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/dec/11/mastercard-class-action-gets-court-uk
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Senator Caswell cannot be correct all the time.
Source: Nation
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Source: Nation
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Oh what a tangle web we weave when we practice to deceive
Thanks COVID for bringing to the surface the deceptive nature of govt and govt covert intention to deceive workers
When all is said and done the G4S workers would be put out to pasture while the G4S management ride out into the sunset guided by law
Muttley can play all she wants with the minds of the people but one day coming soon things gonna get real ugly
The hand writing is already on the wall
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Mari
You lie
The government was deceptive from May 2018
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Source: Nation
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Source: Nation
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