Goddard workers strike on airport’s busiest day

Scores of employees across several service firms at the Grantley Adams International Airport declared mounting frustration over pay and conditions, prompting the Barbados Workers’ Union to warn that more industrial action could follow Thursday’s work stoppage at Goddard Catering Group.

The warning coincided with the busiest day of the year so far at the airport — Thursday, known as “Fat Thursday” — when around
8 000 passengers passed through.

Barbados Workers’ Union Deputy General Secretary Dwaine Paul said the work stoppage at Goddard Catering Group (GCG) was triggered by a breakdown in commitments by the company on negotiations.

He said: “There was a breakdown in terms of responses to negotiation matters,” resulting in the morning shift withdrawing their labour.

All staff on duty, around 50 to 75 workers, took part. “It would have involved all the staff that were on duty on the morning shift. Whether they were on ground, passenger services, customer service, involved, all of them that were on duty this morning, including the maintenance.”

The workers, who clocked in for seven o’clock, resumed duties after the union received correspondence from management around midday.

“We’ve got a response from the company on some of the key outstanding issues,” Paul said. “Based on that response that has been sent to us, we are going to meet with management next week to fully ventilate, and on that basis, the guys went back to work.”

He stressed that GCG was not the only employer facing unresolved disputes.

“There are a number of entities at the airport who have outstanding grievances. Some have reached the point of frustration, and as those matters are not resolved, we are more than likely to see further industrial action taking place at the airport very soon during this season. It is a word to the wise,” he said.

“It is highly likely that sooner or later, other groups will take up industrial action at the airport. When I say other companies, I mean that there is a high possibility that any other company at the airport, including air traffic control.”

Asked whether the timing was strategic given the expected passenger load, Paul rejected the claim. “People should be concerned with the fact that workers have issues and, similar to us planning for any major events such as that, people should be planning to make sure that the staff that have 8 000 people to care for are taken care of and being treated fairly.”

When contacted, someone from GCG’s human resources department said management would return the call. However, that call was not forthcoming up to the time of publication.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb