Watchies’ wage rates settled – NUPW

A settlement has been reached on pay rates for government-paid watchmen, Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) Wayne Walrond said Wednesday.

The resolution was contained in a letter from the Ministry of the Public Service that declared that Government had no intention of reducing the terms and conditions of public officers which would include watchmen, the union leader told Barbados TODAY.

Walrond explained that the workers had complained that while Government had sought to increase their hourly rates for a normal 12-hour shift, the employees still ended getting less gross pay because their hours were cut based on interpretation by the various accounts departments.

He said the union raised concerns about the issue in a letter to the ministry and called for a meeting to address the situation.

The NUPW leader said that ministry responded via correspondence dated September 7, stating that neither the Prime Minister nor the Ministry of the Public Service intended “reducing the terms and conditions of any public officer”.

Walrond said: “What was good news for the watchmen was that their overall pay for the 12-hour period would now increase from $78.36 to $111. They have also come out of a situation where the Government has ruled now that the 12-hour period would remain. This is certainly wonderful news for the watchmen. We are pleased with this development.”

A meeting which was scheduled to be held Wednesday afternoon with the ministry was called off given the Government’s letter which the union received today, he said.

“We would have informed [the ministry] in advance that given the matter which we deemed resolved concerning the watchmen, it would be no longer necessary to hold that meeting. So that would conclude the situation with the watchmen,” Walrond disclosed.

He said he expected the increase in pay would become effective almost immediately.

(EJ)