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CTUSAB: Collaboration needed to beat challenges in 2021

by Marlon Madden
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Government has come in for high praise for its overall management of the COVID-19 pandemic over the last nine months, but the umbrella body for trade unions is calling for continued collaboration between the social partners to find solutions to social and economic challenges as a New Year begins.

At the same time, the labour movement is promising to continue to fight for workers’ rights.

In his New Year’s message, General Secretary of the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) Denis DePeiza said that as the country enters 2021, the Social Partnership – which is made up of Government, private sector, labour and civil society – is still forced to consider ways of responding to the myriad challenges that confronted the nation in 2020.

“The labour movement is conscious of the need for the Social Partners to work aggressively to find workable solutions towards resolving the social and economic fallout which has emerged as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added.

DePeiza maintained that focus must be on some “fundamental issues”, including the upsurge in unemployment, the protection of workers’ rights, addressing poverty alleviation and social deprivation, preserving the social protection floor, and the revival of the state of the island’s ailing economy.

“Whereas the Congress is understanding of the efforts of the Government to stabilise the island’s economy in this difficult time, CTUSAB, however, holds the view that priority must be given to ensuring that the society remains COVID-19 free, as this will be part of the required platform to aid the economic recovery effort,” he said.

Commending Government on its management of the COVID-19 pandemic over the past several months, DePeiza suggested that the tightening of protocols for the next week should be extended.

“While the intention behind the recent COVID-19 protocols which were put in place by the Government for the six-day period, 31 December, 2020 to 6 January, 2021 is understood to be a short-term measure, a case can well be made for these protocols to be extended during the tourism season, ending April 2021,” he said.

“These measures, along with the introduction of electronic surveillance mechanisms must be seen as necessary tools to protect the health of the nation and, more so, workers in the hotel industry, hospitality, restaurant, entertainment and services sectors – all of whom invariably come into direct contact with visitors to our shores as well as returning nationals,” he said.

The CTUSAB boss gave the assurance that the labour movement had not lost sight of the need to continue to protect the rights and welfare of workers, adding that many gains made by labour were “under threat” of being eroded.

“The shift to contract employment and home-working threatens to undermine the collective bargaining arrangements and to destabilise the notion of workers’ unionisation and trade union recognition. In strengthening its role in this aggressive labour environment, the labour movement must now press its demands on Government for the enactment of supporting labour legislation.

“Against this backdrop, CTUSAB urges its member organisations to remain committed to the representation of the causes of labour, and to defy any attempts directed to marginalise, divide or fracture the labour movement. There must be a resolve by all players in the labour movement in Barbados to remain committed to a restoration of a united labour front,” said DePeiza.

In its message, the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) said it “will continue to be a safe partner for the members and the workers of Barbados as we continue to navigate the pandemic”.

“One of the major tasks we have assigned ourselves in the New Year is to continue the appointments process for those officers who experienced difficulties in the first tranche. We are also cognisant that in addition to security of tenure, workers need price regulation on food items to ensure that they can continue to manage their households. Thus, we will be working as an integral part of the Social Partnership process to ensure a new prices and income protocol,” said the NUPW.

“The impact of COVID on the educational system has resulted in significant fallout for employees who are parents. We owe a debt of gratitude to the mothers of Barbados, and we also recognise the contribution that active fathers have played. In the New Year, the Union will press for the finalisation of the paternity leave benefit so that fathers can add another layer of support to managing care roles in the family,” it added.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA) Edward Clarke, while pledging to continue to work with Government, other social partners and residents for the development and prosperity of the nation, warned that as a new year begins, it should be noted that “our lives and economies are still under threat”.

Looking back at 2020, he acknowledged that while Barbados was spared the worse of COVID-19 infections, the country was still dealt a severe blow to its tourism industry and economy, with high unemployment and an overall decline in business activities.

He attributed the current containment of the virus and lack of spread in Barbados to “strong leadership” and “the outstanding contribution by those dedicated professionals working on our front line”.

Stating that the BPSA was aware of “the significance of 2021”, Clarke added that “the gravity of the present local economy coupled with the expected role which the private sector plays in its development is not lost on us at all”.

The BPSA chairman spoke of the need for everyone to “aim for the much-needed improvement in our economy and our well-being that we all desire and ensure the commitment of our population to do what is required to bring us the necessary success in 2021”.

“We are also fully aware of the importance of the private sector’s contribution to the livelihoods of all Barbadians. It is therefore so vital for us in the private sector to maintain a collaborative framework conducive to the advancement of the economic and social fabric of Barbados,” said Clarke in his New Year’s message.

“Our communication with each other, as employers and employees and with our social partners, must be ongoing, meaningful and transparent, so as to redound to the benefit of all in our nation.”
(marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb)

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