BWU raises eyebrow at planned Supermarket layoffs

More than 100 workers at two of Barbados’ major supermarket chains are set to join the breadline in coming weeks.

However, the move is not sitting well with Deputy General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) Dwaine Paul, who is questioning the motives behind management’s decision.

According to Paul, Massy Stores has already sent home some of its workers and were about to reduce their numbers “significantly”.

He also pointed out that AOne Supermarkets, which operates the Emerald City and Carlton Supermarket brands, was set to let go close to 100 of its workers.

“We need to get explanations from these particular retailers as to how you could have such large increases and influx in business only to result in you turning on your staff who we were all praising for giving such yeoman service, and then reward them by having them sent home,” said Paul.

Several attempts by this newspaper to reach officials of AOne Supermarkets and Massy Stores were unsuccessful.

However, Paul told reporters on Thursday that he was at a loss as to why retailers would choose to send home workers at this point, mere months after “significant lines” of people flooded their establishments and made purchases. He pointed out that business had been so good for supermarkets that many of them had cancelled orders made by customers because they were overwhelmed prior to the lockdown period.

“In less than one month after that period, we in the industrial relations department were inundated with letters and correspondence from the major players in this sector all seeking to reduce staff,” Paul reported.

“We have the Massy chain seeking to reduce their numbers significantly. They have started the process and we believe more is in train. So, there are still discussions as it relates to the Massy Group.

“We have the Emerald City and Carlton Supermarkets, who have a number of staff who have not been re-engaged…, seeking to reduce their staff complement by almost 100 people,” he added.

Paul argued that these businesses were taking this measure, “claiming that part of the reason for this is their inability to return to normal hours”, yet they “still have lines outside of their businesses”.

“We all know that normal hours for supermarket operations are now solely in the hands of the owners of these businesses, but yet they are still seeking to operate on reduced models, thereby funnelling the workforce into these businesses and hours which for many are now not convenient. They have also claimed that persons in the hotel sector are laid off and thereby their customer base is down,” added the BWU official.

At the same time, he lauded ice cream and cold storage company BICO Ltd for its “honesty” in announcing profits during the last several months. (MM)