No support from unions, doctors, nurses, private sector

The associations representing doctors and nurses, as well as the island’s largest trade unions have distanced themselves from strike action being taken by nurses represented by the Unity Workers’ Union (UWU).

And they have called for cooler heads to prevail to ensure patients receive adequate care, particularly as the country continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

At a press conference hosted by Prime Minister Mia Mottley on Wednesday, representatives of the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP), the Barbados Nurses Association (BNA), the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) and the Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA) made it clear they did not support the action.

They agreed with the Prime Minister that industrial relations protocol had not been observed.

The UWU-represented nurses have been off the job for over a week, protesting the planned implementation of Safe Zones that would require them to be either fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or be tested regularly; as well as unsatisfactory work conditions. However, the Prime Minister said the details of the latter had not been properly brought to the attention of the relevant authorities.

The NUPW, which is the bargaining agent for the majority of the island’s nurses, said it was neither participating in nor sanctioning any strike action at this time, although it acknowledged there are some unresolved issues that need attention.

“No authority was given from the NUPW from the leadership of that body as it relates to participating in any such action,” said the union’s president, Kimberley Agard.

“The NUPW understands the industrial relations process and this august institution will continue to operate in a way to preserve and respect that process…. We are fully aware of the issues plaguing the nursing sector. Most of these issues are issues that we have made representation for to the Government and that we are in active negotiations on, some of which after writing to the Ministry of Health and the Attorney General we have resolved.”

BWU General Secretary Toni Moore also expressed disappointment at the withdrawal of labour.

She pointed to the BWU’s position that strike action should be the final move in a labour dispute.

“It is one that is not contemplated lightly and without due consideration, not only for the issues but for the support. We don’t go into action and then try to build support for action, and we certainly do not go into action where we do not have a majority. And so, even on that basis, I will choose to express my disappointment in that regard,” Moore said.

“We hope that we can reach a point pretty soon where heads will cool and where individuals will revert to the position that they know is sound and in the best interest of not only themselves but in the interest of the parliamentary republic of Barbados.”

While saying that his organisation was “not in the business of calling into question the integrity or casting judgment on another registered trade union”, CTUSAB General Secretary Dennis De Peiza said it would have to “raise our voice against any action or behaviours that are not consistent with the principles of good industrial relations practice”.

“I think it is important in this particular episode to voice our dismay that we are in the heat of a global pandemic and where the lives of people of a nation are all at stake. As a labour organisation, we ought to show a higher sense of responsibility, maturity and professionalism, so that we do not bring the nation basically to its knees by our actions,” he added.

For her part, the BNA President, Valarie Francis-Miller said the association has always worked in tandem with the Government to put the welfare of patients first. “The Barbados Nurses Association has always sought accommodation and negotiations rather than stage industrial action. Therefore, we are looking forward to continual negotiations, collaborative dialogue, with the Government to better nursing and the lives of nurses,” she said.

BAMP also expressed dismay at the current situation, saying it was concerned about anything that diverted from the tenets of putting the welfare of patients first.

“As a result, upon hearing what has transpired, as an advocate for the patient, we chose to distance because we believe that every single patient deserves to be treated equally, deserves a standard of care, irrespective of your social standing, colour, creed and class,” said First Vice President Dr Adanna Grandison. “And so, we will continue to act as advocates and we will continue to ensure that every single patient has and will continue to get a standard of care for Barbados.”

Also weighing in on the issue, BPSA chairman Trisha Tannis expressed “deep concern” about Franklyn telling nurses that they did not have any responsibility to patients once they did not show up for work.

“We would seek along with the Government to distance ourselves from that type of approach,” she said.

“I would still like to believe that the comments have been misreported, because it is very difficult to think that anyone who has the interest of Barbados, patients, or any shred of humanity would take that approach and therefore we… would also express deep and profound concern with the reported comments as they were.”

As it related to the matter of Safe Zones, Tannis contended that the Social Partnership had to come to some agreement on how to proceed on this “unnecessarily contentious” issue.

“We all have to step back and remember why we are doing what we are doing and certainly, from the private sector perspective, we respect the view of the Government that the big picture is that we are trying to keep Barbados safe.

“We look forward to working with the Government and our labour colleagues in deciding how we can do that so that we are all of the same mindset,” the private sector leader said. sandydeane@barbadostoday.bb