Union looking to head off job losses

The National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) is putting measures in place to represent its members post COVID-19.

That is according to president Akanni McDowall, who has revealed that once the all-clear is given the union would be meeting with stakeholders in an effort to reduce job losses among its membership.

At the same time the outspoken union president lauded Government for being proactive in devising an employment strategy post COVID-19.

On Saturday night Prime Minister Mia Mottley revealed that a job and investment council was being set up by Government to help chart the way forward for the country’s economy. Former Prime Minister Owen Arthur and former Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler are among the members of that council.

Mottley stressed that “new economic paradigms” would be necessary once Barbados recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“That will help us with how do we mobilise and catalyse all of the investments and to create all the jobs that we possibly can, first, in a COVID-19 environment and two, in a post- COVID-19 environment,” the PM outlined.

McDowall agreed that the initiative was necessary given the current circumstances.

“It is predicted that this pandemic will cause most economies to be in financial crisis for at least the next six months. Government reported that there were approximately 14 000 unemployment claims to date. The IMF announced that Barbados’ economy is expected to decline by 7.6 per cent, therefore a recession appears to be unavoidable. To my mind, Government must be able to develop a strategy for finding and maintaining employment going forward,” the union leader told Barbados TODAY.

“The union will meet with its stakeholders soonest to come up with a strategy for maintaining employment amongst members.”

McDowall said while few concerns had been raised by members during the current 24-hour curfew, nurses had reported some grievances leading to the union swiftly arranging a meeting with management of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to bring speedy resolution to some of those issues.

One of those issues McDowall revealed was the need for them to have special days to conduct their business.

He said the Prime Minister subsequently delegated two days specifically for essential workers to do their shopping and banking.

“We were able to meet with the QEH management last week to resolve some of those concerns. One of the matters related to having special days for essential workers to conduct their business which was recently resolved,” he noted.
randybennett@barbadostoday.bb