Union takes stand on civilian employees at the prison

President of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) Akanni McDowall says an agreement has been reached between the union and prison administrators relating to a new mode of operation for civilian staff at Her Majesty’s Prison Dodds.

This came hours after McDowall expressed concern that prison workers who were not considered to be part of the armed forces were being called into work despite the current situation facing the prison with a major spike in COVID-19 cases.

To date, the total number of positive cases recorded at the prison were 309 – 70 staff members and 239 inmates.

This morning, McDowall said the NUPW was advising its civilian members not to report to work today, and that the union was “invoking” the appropriate legislation which speaks specifically to the safety, health and welfare of persons in the workplace.

“The NUPW is uncomfortable at this stage with the reintegration of civilian staff back into the workplace at her Majesty’s Prison. There are some concerns expressed to us by our membership, and as such, we are invoking section 104 of the Safety and Health [at Work] Act and advising our members not to return to work until we are able to negotiate the terms and conditions prior to their re-entry. We, as a union, stand ready to offer support to our members who have been affected by this,” he said.

McDowall has also called on the wider NUPW members to contact the union with any concerns.

However, in a subsequent update in relation to the prison, the union leader said an agreement was reached that only “one high-level staff member” in a critical area would report for work.

A new roster system for those critical areas is also to be implemented.

“The NUPW wishes to thank the Government of Barbados and the head of the civil and public service for the swift response to the concerns of the civilian staff at Her Majesty’s Prison,” said McDowall.

McDowall noted, “The union is not in any way callous in its response to Dodds Prison, but we are only ensuring at all costs that our members are protected. We fully understand the magnitude of what Government is dealing with at Dodds Prison,” he said.

The Mia Mottley administration has come under heavy criticism in recent days, following the spike in local cases, which authorities have so far blamed on a Boxing Day bus crawl.

Between Saturday and Wednesday, there have been increased numbers of positive cases at the prison, even as officials continue to give the assurance that they had “everything under control”. (MM)