NUPW urges BRA to hold off changing workers’ terms

The island’s largest public sector trade union is calling on the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) to halt any further action on what the bargaining body considers a change in the workers’ terms and conditions of employment.

Deputy General Secretary of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) Wayne Walrond on Tuesday urged the BRA to instead meet at the negotiation table and discuss the issue as a matter of urgency.

“The National Union of Public Workers has received several complaints that there has been a variation in the terms and conditions of service of employees of the Barbados Revenue Authority who had transitioned from the public service,” he told Barbados TODAY.

Walrond said the matter relates to recent correspondence issued to staff two weeks ago, informing that state-owned enterprises will have to pay the full National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions.

He said the workers will therefore no longer be termed government permanent employees but will be treated as regular workers.

“This constitutes a change in conditions of the service of the workers, and the NUPW is impressing on the management of the BRA that they must sit down and discuss this matter with the NUPW since it constitutes a variation of the workers’ contracts,” the senior union official advised.

“We also wish to caution state-owned enterprises and chairmen of boards, that because permanent workers of government are now being required to pay NIS contributions, including sick leave, it does not give them the authority to remove or suspend the extension of sick leave from full pay which the workers enjoyed over the years,” he warned.
(EJ)