Future unknown

There is a level of uncertainty surrounding the planned closure of the Massy Stores Supermarket Oistins branch.

Barbados TODAY understands that the location, which employs more than a dozen people, will be closing at the end of this month.

However, it is still unclear if it would reopen, and several staff members are yet to know their fate.

Multiple calls and messages left for Massy’s Managing Director Randall Banfield and Operations Director Richard Cox were not returned. But one source said staff were informed of the pending May 25 closure more than a week ago, and they were offered voluntary separation packages.

The source also said some workers would be shared among the company’s other supermarket locations. It was not immediately clear if any would be made redundant.

At the same time, another source said information circulating was that the popular supermarket would only be closing for refurbishment, which could last up to four months.

However, at least two staff members at the Oistins location told Barbados TODAY while they were aware that the store would be closing at the end of this month, they were ignorant as to why or if they would lose their jobs.

Efforts to reach representatives from the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) were also futile.

In 2016, management of the Massy Group entered into discussions with the BWU as it sought to make about 70 workers across the group redundant.

At the time Sir Roy Trotman, consultant with the BWU, had disclosed that 35 persons from the Massy Supermarkets across the island had volunteered to go and another 18 from the home stores.

And in March 2017, management of the company was again meeting with union officials to discuss temporary lay-offs due to
the construction of the sprawling Holetown branch, which later reopened in November that year.

That Sunset Crest location was rebuilt to the tune of about $45 million, and reopened with a staff complement of some 190.
marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb