Issues related to COVID testing and vaccination on BWU conference agenda

The Executive Council of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) says it expects issues of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination and testing to be major talking points at its upcoming Annual Delegates’ Conference (ADC).

The union, which has been silent in the raging debate, will convene the major annual meeting on Saturday, at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium.

“The Executive Council has consciously reserved becoming heavily involved in the public discourse on this subject as we anticipate meaningful discussion at the level of the highest decision-making body of the BWU, its annual conference. The BWU represents workers with strong views that are choice-based and rights-based, on different sides of the argument, and all views must and will contend,” General Secretary Senator Toni Moore said in a release.

After being postponed last year, the ADC will be held this year under the theme, The Time is Now.

A number of other issues, which the union said it had been addressing as it seeks to gain advances for workers during this very difficult period, will also come under the members’ microscope.

“At the very least, the BWU has been solid in its fight to maintain industrial relations principles, standards and agreements during the period.

“In addition to a discussion of the Executive Council’s report, the conference will be revisiting a number of the demands we have made over time within the context of the changes which are taking place in the labour market globally and within Barbados specifically. As such, we will be revisiting our demands relative to safeguarding the vulnerable, recognising that beyond the introduction of a national minimum wage which took effect in April this year and which was championed by this union, we also have to ensure that more is done for all categories of workers to have effective terms and conditions,” Moore said.

For example, she said, the case must be made for gas station workers “who can now be paid a rate at the national minimum, but who still ought to have coverage for the predictable and the unpredictable hazards associated with the very important work they do”.

“A similar case can be made for security workers, hospitality workers, workers in the domestic area and others as well. The conference will also be examining the issue of remote work and a need to streamline policies related to working from home that take into account a number of factors, including health and safety, liability, burnout, work-life balance and access to a person’s home, within the context of labour administration,” Moore added.

The union leader also revealed that the contribution of President General Linda Brooks, who served in her post for the past 13 years and on the Executive Council for 29 years and who was a member of the union for almost half a century, would be observed on the day in a “big way”.

“While we will most certainly miss her and her active participation, it has created an opportunity for Comrade Shawn Knight who has served the union in several capacities as shop steward in Cable & Wireless, vice president of the youth arm and council member,” the BWU boss said. “He now has the opportunity, having served as vice president for the past eight years, to ascend to presidency unopposed.

“However, beyond the personal sentiments that I have, because I am truly happy for the opportunity to serve with him, we are also satisfied as an Executive Council that he is bringing that energy and a tremendous capacity which is required to steer this organisation through some very challenging times.”
(PR/BT)