‘Hear us, Minister’

Scores of Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) workers are threatening to leave garbage piled up across the island if Government does not urgently intervene to resolve issues that sparked a work stoppage on Monday.

They are also demanding that general manager Janice Jones must go as they have lost confidence in her ability to lead.

However, management of the government agency said it was disappointed in the “wild cat strike” which it said was a breach of social partnership relations.

Well over 100 workers, including drivers, loaders and security officers at the SSA’s Wildey, St Michael depot stopped work from as early as 6 a.m. to press for a pay increase and more hazard pay and washing allowance, among other issues.

The workers, who were later visited by the top brass of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), told Barbados TODAY they had had enough of the treatment being dished out to them and were not going back to work unless their issues were taken seriously and Minister of the Environment and National Beautification Adrian Forde intervened.

“We want a pay increase – we have not had one in years – and we also want more money for hazard pay and washing allowance,” one worker said. “Right now we are only getting $56 per month to wash uniforms [three pants and five shirts] and that is not enough, especially for the loaders who directly come into contact with faeces, dead animals and raw sewage every day. They have to wash their clothes every day and with this level of exposure, putting themselves at risk to contract infections and illnesses, hazard pay [of] $13 a day is not enough either.”

Another worker complained that SSA employees did not receive equal treatment from management.

“There is too much favouritism and victimisation going on and we are just fed up. We want better for the workers and for us to get better,” the worker said.

“Jones has to go. She retired and came back on contract . . . . Somebody else should get a chance to run sanitation. She makes the workers frightened. As soon as you open your mouth and say you disagree with something she says, she moves you. So we want someone to replace her; somebody fair . . . to the workers.”

In a petition addressed to the chairman of the SSA, the workers stated: “We have lost confidence in Ms Janice Jones to lead the affairs of the Sanitation Service Authority and inspire us as workers to give of our best and feel motivated about our work.”

Meanwhile, in a recorded statement, operations manager at SSA Michael Nicholls said he was disappointed by the workers’ action.

“This is very disappointing in that recently the workers’ representative met with the chairman and management on a number of real matters that they had raised in a letter on June 20,” he said.

Nicholls said that following that meeting, an agreement was reached regarding washing allowance and the SSA wrote to the Ministry of Public Service seeking approval for the increase and the agency was awaiting confirmation.

He added that within the past three years, the workers received medical insurance – a ten-year outstanding matter – and the SSA also established a recreation centre and improved facilities at all its depots.

Workers also complained that Government had promised each frontline worker, including SSA staffers, a gift of $500 for the work they did throughout the COVID-19 pandemic but, to date, they have not received anything.

They also pointed to faulty equipment as another issue.

“About 95 per cent of the trucks have issues. Some have faulty exhaust breaks, the wipers not working, they do not steer well or need tyres; while others have issues with the seats and the drivers have to use bricks or wood and put under the seats. So we just want the Minister to urgently intervene or we ain’t working,” a worker said.

The SSA staffers said it was a combination of all the mentioned issues that led to the work stoppage, adding that they were also displeased that a worker was “unfairly” moved from Wildey to the landfill in St Thomas, and that a clerk had been demoted to a loader.

Following a meeting with the workers, general secretary of the NUPW Richard Green said the union had initiated a process of discussion with management to see how soon the workers’ grievances could be resolved.

He said the NUPW visited the workers when it was informed that management made a decision to remove some of their amenities and the union had stood in solidarity with the workers.

“The workers were so incensed that a lot of the other issues that were unresolved for some time were raised . . . ,” Green said.

His deputy Wayne Walrond said that while the NUPW had a good relationship with the board of the SSA, as the two entities met occasionally, he was concerned about the operational management style as the workers believed they were not being treated with respect and dignity.

Nicholls maintained that the work stoppage went against the spirit of the Social Partnership.

“It is without basis to suggest that there has not been improved engagement and improved conditions. The Social Partnership protocols have not been followed by the union or workers on this occasion and the SSA expects that there would be compliance going forward,” he said.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb