Union vows to champion workers’ rights, well-being in 2025

The National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) has committed to tackling critical issues including gun violence, the high cost of living, and work-life balance, as part of its New Year’s resolutions to uplift workers and improve the quality of life in Barbados.

In a New Year’s message, general secretary Richard Green said the union’s leadership was renewing its dedication and purpose as the island welcomed 2025.

“The leadership of the NUPW renews its pledge and promise to give honest representation on matters that promote improvement in health, finances, career, family, spirituality, fairness, equity and justice. Individually, we sincerely hope that whatever your resolution, you will be able to have success and meet the goals and targets you set in 2025,” Green said.

“From the NUPW’s perspective, if Barbados could achieve full employment, fair and equitable social and economic development for all, the complete protection of the rights of our workers, whilst ensuring that food, education, health and human rights for every Barbadian is accomplished, this union would be happy. However, the reality is that there are still families that do not have equal access to an adequate quality of life. This union will endeavour to ensure that those vulnerable groups are uplifted and enfranchised.”

Green added that violence, particularly gun crime, affected the labour movement by undermining the quality of life of its members. He said the NUPW would actively support national efforts to curb the scourge of gun violence, especially among the youth.

“The NUPW has enamoured itself to support all efforts to combat the real and existential threat of gun violence which now threatens not only our physical safety but our feelings of safety. The loss of a young life, whether a family member or not, affects us all deeply, with untold socio-economic implications. As we welcome 2025, the NUPW is appealing to young men and women across Barbados to put down the guns and seek to empower themselves through education, creativity, and entrepreneurship, as we collectively seek to make this fair land of ours a better place.”

The union also highlighted spending power and work-life balance as priorities. Green said the high cost of living was negatively impacting workers, and the NUPW would be engaging the Social Partnership to find ways to empower consumers.

Regarding work-life balance and productivity, the NUPW plans to revisit the Flexible Work Policy, advocating for the government to reactivate all its provisions.

 “This union sees itself responsible for raising the collective national conscience to matters that can structurally improve the lives of our people, to transform the national psyche and perspective towards greater collectivism. For example, by moving the discussion on pensions to the discussion on planning for retirement; moving the discussion on spending to investment. To support the initiatives for training and education on financial literacy. [Next year] 2025 must be a year of purpose and growth for all public workers in Barbados. The NUPW promises to be the union that leads for the realisation of purpose and growth,” he said.

Touching on the public sector job evaluation exercise, Green expressed hope that the measure would be fully implemented, encouraging members to participate.

He added: “The NUPW also wishes to urge the government to use this job evaluation exercise to address the shortage of staff and the attractiveness of compensation packages in the health and protective services. The inability to attract and recruit the brightest and best available talent in the island impacts negatively on quality public services.” (SZB)sheria