The Prime Minister on Monday did not break the deadlock between the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) and G4S Secure Solutions (Barbados) Limited on their ongoing pay dispute but has thwarted a strike – for now.
The union has been asked to hold strain on a planned strike for at least the next 36 hours as Government contemplates its next course of action against the alleged discriminatory practices of the London-based security firm.
After more than six hours of intense talks, it was clear that G4S’ refusal to deviate from the practice of hiring security stewards at a rate of $7.42 per hour, to perform the same duties as security officers at $8.79 per hour had raised the ire of Prime Minister Mottley.
The rates have been in place since 2014. Over the same period, the company has not granted salary increases for workers with the exception of administrative staff.
Mottley has ordered Attorney General Dale Marshall to present a legal opinion on the issue on behalf of the Government and its state-owned enterprises who currently do business with G4S.
This, she explained is to ensure Government absolves itself of the potential for being named a co-conspirator to potential breaches of the International Labour Organization (ILO)’s conventions.
“It is against that background… that I will wait for the legal opinion before we announce the next step that the Government of Barbados will take with respect to G4S,” the PM told reporters at around 12:45 in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.
“It is against this background that we have also asked the Barbados Workers’ Union to stay their hand with respect to further industrial action for the 36 hours, because this is not a case of the Government, state-owned enterprises or the people of Barbados trying to conspire with anyone to pay anybody less than what they deserve or to act in a discriminatory manner against a category of worker who is performing equal work and hence would expect equal pay.”
It is unclear the extent of Government’s existing contracts with G4S.
Mottley told reporters that the company admitted to the existence of its discriminatory wage structure, refused to grant salary increases, promoted security stewards to security officers and failed to hire a single full-fledged security officer since 2014.
“This Government has already stated that we will not, under any circumstances… contribute to a situation where workers’ rights are being undermined, or where there is discrimination against anyone,” declared Mottley.
“Equally, we are not a country where people act rashly, and to that extent, therefore, we have asked for the legal opinion, but we are equally going to put Barbadian workers first before we put the interest of those who would want to exploit Barbadian workers if that were indeed their motivation.
“It is against that background therefore that we expect on Wednesday, I expect that we will have a legal opinion. The Government will then reflect on the opinion and meet and consult back with the union and the company.
“I equally hope that the company would reflect on the import of what they have put on the table tonight because I do not know how you can admit that something is wrong and then ask to continue… and if that is how business is done in other parts of the world…. not ‘bout’ here.”
Among those involved in the discussions were four other members of the Cabinet: Minister of Labour Colin Jordan, Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams, Minister of Tourism Senator Lisa Cummins, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Senator Dr. Jerome Walcott.
Present on behalf of workers were BWU General Secretary Toni Moore, industrial relations consultant Sir Roy Trotman, BWU president for the G4S division Ormond Mayers, BWU industrial relations officers and G4S staff.
Talks with the company’s top brass were conducted virtually.
The latest developments follow a volatile day for industrial relations on Monday in which Moore formally informed the Labour Minister of the union’s intention to launch islandwide industrial action starting on Tuesday.
In her announcement, Moore charged that management of the Grantley Adams International Airport, where a number of G4S officers are employed, was seemingly taking sides with the management of G4S, by engaging in “strike-breaking” tactics.
As a result, the BWU called an emergency meeting of its Executive Council at 4 p.m.
Simultaneously, Barbados TODAY was informed that the PM met with key ministers to review the issues, before inviting all parties involved to a meeting at her official Ilaro Court residence at 6 p.m.
Up until late in the evening, senior government ministers and civil servants were shuffling from one room to another as the meetings progressed and groups met to deliberate before the press conference that occurred moments before 1 a.m. the next day.
Following the talks, Moore – just weeks after becoming a Labour backbencher for the St George North riding – confirmed that G4S employees had agreed to delay their strike until the completion of government’s legal opinions and any decisions arising as a result.
Over the last two weeks, G4S workers have mounted a number of demonstrations outside the company’s Brighton, Black Rock, St Michael headquarters, demanding pay increases and better working conditions.
(kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb)
