Industrial action symptoms of ‘social stress’ – CTUSAB

Problems in the Barbadian workplace, including heated industrial action, reveal tears in the nation’s social fabric that need to be mended, the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) suggested on Tuesday.

Crime, violence, stress and other social ills have had a negative impact on the work world, CTUSAB General Secretary Dennis De Peiza told journalists at a press conference at the Barbados Union of Teachers’ Welches, St Michael headquarters.

“The growing industrial relation tension at the start of the year sends a signal that workers are becoming frustrated and, moreover, there is a breakdown in the employer/employee relationship,” he said.

The level of criminal behaviour, especially several businesses that have been robbed by gunmen recently, can not be allowed to become the norm, he added.

De Peiza said: “At a time when extensive efforts are being made towards advancing the development of Barbados, CTUSAB contends that it would be counter-productive, should the nation continue to face the challenge of high unemployment and high underemployment amongst its young people. This raises serious questions over the social fallout, where the criminal element is placing increased pressure on businesses who are being forced to upgrade security in order to protect their property.

“On the other hand, workers in some workplaces are being forced to work under undue stress as they have become susceptible to being victims of crime and violence.”

The CTUSAB head also identified healthcare delays at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and a lack of access to vital pharmaceuticals as issues that needed to be addressed.

“The problem which continues to beset the healthcare sector has not escaped the attention of the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados,” De Peiza said. “The issues of nursing shortages, the exit of nurses, particularly from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), long waiting times being experienced by patients and the Accident and Emergency Department of the QEH, the long time for clinical appointments, some of which are up to a year – these are all problems that we are experiencing – along with those who are not able to access medicines which are on the drug formulary.”

Work stoppages at the Government Information Service, Inchcape Barbados and the University of the West Indies Cave Hill were described by the veteran trade unionists as symptoms of heightened tension in industrial relations that required intervention from all sides. (SB)