Union to meet with Arawak over restructuring

The Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) and the management of the Arawak Cement Company are to meet shortly to discuss the employees’ position on the company’s restructuring plans.
At a well-attended meeting on Monday at Solidarity House between the BWU and staff of the St Lucy-based plant, workers offered their own recommendations regarding the proposed restructuring.
Communications and Information Manager with the BWU Cheyne Jones said the union would meet the cement plant’s management in the shortest possible time, to relay the suggestions presented by members.
“The session was an extremely productive one…it lasted a couple hours. What I found particularly encouraging to see, was the level of participation of the membership that turned up here at our Solidarity House headquarters. I believe it was close to 100 that we had here today,” Jones stated in a voice recording sent to the media.
“There was progressive, inclusive discourse [by] employees, and they made suggestions and also highlighted concerns to the head of our Industrial Relations Department Dwaine Paul,” he reported.
Jones said Paul provided the workers with the facts of the situation to equip them to make informed opinions and contributions.
“The next step for us here is that the Barbados Workers’ Union will now meet with management of Arawak in the very shortest possible time to relay those suggestions and discussions coming out of this meeting to find solutions that are in the best interest of our membership,” Jones added.
Efforts to reach management of the company were unsuccessful.
(EJ)