Shot across the bow

Airport workers protest over PPP plan, outstanding grievances in warning to management By Jenique Belgrave Lack of information and uncertainty about the proposed public/private partnership (PPP) being negotiated for the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) and unresolved grievances led to over 50 workers staging a brief protest on Thursday. President of the Unity Workers Union (UWU) Alvin Hall insisted the company must share more details on what the partnership would mean for staff who already have “grave concerns” about the PPP. Last week, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Government and the Office of Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum of Dubai, and Chilean company Agencias Universales SA on a new management arrangement for the facility that will bring $300 million in foreign investment for airport development, jobs and enhanced customer experience. Speaking to members of the media just after 3 p.m. as over 50 employees staged a brief protest outside the Departures Terminal, Hall expressed unease with the proposed two-year timeline agreed by the Government for the airport operator under the PPP to retain the services of employees. “The Unity Workers Union had a discussion with the minister on July 14. I made the submission to ask that within the negotiations, the operators be asked to hold workers for five years to give them enough time and an opportunity to put their house in order so that if indeed the enhanced separation packages are presented to them, they will be able to make a better decision on whether they want to leave or not…but this is going to be so rushed because two years is not enough time,” he insisted. Hall called for more details as to what will be offered and for the unions to have a seat at the negotiation table. The Senior Electronics Technician at GAIA said the workers are also not convinced by declarations that employees will be able to become shareholders in the facility. “When the workers were coming from government into GAIA Inc., we were told that too – that there was going to be this equity share opportunity for our workers. It never materialised! They never offered it and it never came, and unless we can see that everything that is gonna be a must, well then we are doubtful about it,” he said. An employee in the Custodial Department Stephen Evelyn also urged the Government to be more transparent to allow workers to plan their affairs. “We have workers who have mortgages, they have their cars to pay for, they have rent to pay. If you know that there is a transfer, come to us. We should not have to be finding out what is going on here through the media. That is wrong! The Government works for us, we do not work for the Government, so the Government needs to be more transparent with us,” he declared. The group also highlighted outstanding grievances including health and safety matters, a lack of consistency in how promotions are granted and in rates of pay for similar jobs, rostering issues, environmental issues regarding the incinerator plant, outstanding COVID-19 grants, and the continued assignation of temporary status to employees working with the company for well over two years. Hall said that despite several letters and emails being written to the management, no response had been forthcoming on addressing the issues. He stated the workers remain “on standby”, warning that if talks did not occur between the union, GAIA Inc. and the Government to discuss the matters, further action would be taken. “If we are not satisfied after this that there’s some level of discussion happening between our representative, the company and the Government, well then I think we will mobilise and make it wider because the company needs to understand that workers are unhappy and people are fearful they’re going to lose their jobs,” he stressed. In a Barbados TODAY news article on Wednesday, UWU General Secretary Caswell Franklyn said there was still too much uncertainty regarding how the developments would impact the employees’ conditions of service and they were “ready and waiting to take action”. jeniquebelgrave@barbadostoday.bb]]>