The Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) on Thursday emerged from another round of talks with Transport Board officials, reporting significant progress on several issues that triggered crippling protests by workers on January 23.
The two sides have been discussing acting appointments, health and safety issues, and human resources matters, especially regarding roles and functions within the organisation.
The BWU in a statement said that while the Transport Board’s management has not yet been able to close out all the outstanding issues, it has given the assurance an attempt will be made to investigate all matters to find a resolution in the shortest time possible
“The executive council is pleased that arising out of the meeting, we have made significant progress with respect to the health and safety concerns which were raised on January 23rd,” BWU General Secretary Toni Moore said.
“These concerns related to lengths of routes, the age-old issue of determining the placement of way stations – or toilet stops, if you prefer – for operators in particular along routes, and the obligation of the Board to have a functioning Health and Safety Committee to ensure that matters such as these and others do not have to escalate beyond the local level.”
The union boss added that the BWU was “very pleased with the board’s openness and response to the issues and we look forward to receiving at our next meeting, a clear outline of action points that the board will commit to undertaking all in an effort to close the gaps”.
Moore also disclosed that the BWU made a case for the Transport Board to respond to requests from workers to convert their wages to monthly payments. Workers had signed a petition requesting the change.
She noted that switching to monthly payments would also provide workers with an avenue to have their “age-related concerns addressed”.
“For instance, drivers would have an option to retire earlier. As it stands now, as weekly paid workers they work under an arrangement which does not permit them to retire without penalty before the age of 67. At a follow-up meeting, therefore, which is expected to be held between the parties within the next two weeks, we hope to have more structure around a proposed solution and to have the Board’s full response to the human resources and management missteps and bungles that create issues surrounding seniority, favouritism and unfairness,” Moore said.
“The chairman has undertaken that a clear and full position will be given and it is hoped with this response expected from the board, that we would see matters being further advanced towards full resolution,” she added. (BT/PR)
