BICO, BWU officials meet to resolve strike

A meeting is currently underway between Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) officials and BICO management as negotiations continue to resolve the ongoing strike.

For the second day, BICO workers remained outside the company’s gates, demanding better pay, improved health and safety conditions, and an end to what they describe as disrespect from management.

Backed by the BWU, the employees are steadfast in their vow to stay off the job until their concerns are addressed.

This is the second meeting since the strike began, with the first session on Wednesday lasting over six hours but producing no progress, according to union officials.

In a statement, BWU Communications and Information Specialist Miracle-Ann King said: “It is unfortunate that after a work stoppage . . . and more than six hours of discussions, the Company has not demonstrated any commitment to finding a resolution to bridge the gap with its workers, who have demonstrated patience and grace in their pursuit of fairness and justice for more than six years.”

She said workers would remain off the job until sufficient progress is realised.

“Industrial practice, where there is evidence of good faith bargaining by an employer, could witness workers resuming duties whilst talks continue. However, the lack of movement, notwithstanding the BWU’s commitment to resuming discussions at the Labour Department, where talks had broken down since July, is enough to convince the Executive Council of the BWU of the absence of good faith on the company’s side and an enduring unwillingness to take its employees seriously,” she said.

“The Executive Council of the Barbados Workers’ Union remains firm in its solidarity with the affected workers. We sincerely hope that good judgment will prevail and that a fair and equitable resolution will be reached to bring this impasse to an end.”