SSA workers demand action on their issues

For the second time in under three months, some workers of the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) have taken industrial action. On Thursday morning they renewed demands for management to hear them out on their grouses.

Reports indicate that the workers on the 6 o’clock shift  refused to carry out their duties. They complained that despite giving management written notice of the termination of membership with the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), dues were still being deducted from their salaries for that union.

They were supported by the Unity Workers’ Union (UWU) whose general secretary Caswell Franklyn said the union was willing to take a stand against the SSA for refusing to deduct UWU membership payments from the workers’ salaries.

He told Barbados TODAY: “Sanitation has decided that they are not taking out the dues for me but they do if for other people.”

He said management informed him that the UWU was not recognised as the entity representing the workers but he charged that SSA was attempting to weaken his  position.

“They said I am not the authorised representative of the workers but that doesn’t mean anything because all we are doing is asking them to facilitate the workers and take the money from their salary to prevent the workers from coming to this office every week and lose productivity at sanitation. But they prefer to lose productivity rather than me getting a foot in. So we might have to take matters into our hands again,” he said.

Truck driver Tracie Best noted: “Sanitation workers had stopped this morning for some small issues that were pending. We stopped to let management come to us. The main issues were the issues with the guys getting trouble on the road, where a guy got a gun put on him and the matter had seemed to not be getting dealt with,” he added.

“The other is we wanted to change over from the NUPW to the UWU and they won’t stop taking out our money even though we sent letters to them. That matter has been resolved.”

The workers said an impromptu meeting was held and they were satisfied that the issues would be addressed.

Meanwhile, Franklyn said that SSA management was trying to prohibit the UWU from gaining momentum and increasing its membership at the state-owned entity.

“Nobody has written a letter to them saying that we are seeking recognition because we don’t have the numbers yet but we are getting there. They are trying to put every stumbling block in our way,” Franklyn added.

He said there were about 600 SSA workers in total and the UWU would have to get at least 300 members to be recognised. Close to 100 members have joined the UWU and Franklyn added that management should be reimbursing the workers the deducted money.

Regarding the claims of violence against the SSA crews, Franklyn said enough was not being done to nip that in the bud.

“When the people at sanitation get threatened . . . [there is] nothing to deter people from doing it again and they need to be prosecuted. Are they going to wait until they kill a sanitation worker? They have to do something about it.

“If we have to be back out again or take some other industrial action to get the men’s wishes respected we will and they (SSA) don’t want to have industrial action especially at this time of the year.”

When contacted, chairman of the SSA board of management Ramon Alleyne said that he was not aware of any industrial action on Thursday but he knew there was a meeting with staff and management.

As it relates to the safety of the workers, Alleyne said he did not receive any formal complaints but measures were being taken to ensure the workers were safe.

“The issue of any threats to our workers has gone all the way up to the board and we’ve taken certain steps in relation to certain areas and liaising with the authorities to ensure that they are kept safe . . .

“I have no formal complaint from anyone in that regard. That was acted upon simply on reports that it had occurred so it would be pretty unfair to say that management hasn’t taken that matter seriously,” he said.

“As for the stoppage, I know that the workers went out this morning and they worked. I know that an issue was raised that some of the members of staff had discussions with the operations manager, but I don’t know and I’ve never been informed of any formal work stoppage by anyone.”

In October, the workers took part in a two-day work stoppage demanding wage, hazard pay and washing allowance increases and protesting against alleged ill treatment by management. (SZB)