‘Secret’ union sign-ups prompt BWU concern over busting tactics

Attempts by some employers to block union representation have sparked a marked increase in employees seeking to join the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) anonymously with workers citing concerns over victimisation if their union affiliation is revealed, the union said Friday.

Speaking at the Frank Walcott Labour College, after touring 12 companies for the union’s 84th anniversary celebrations, BWU General Secretary Toni Moore revealed that some workplaces are using intimidation tactics to frustrate union representation.

Citing a recent case at a hardware store where the BWU is involved in negotiations, Moore disclosed that management directly pressured staff to abandon the union.

She said: “We had a situation earlier this year at one of our hardware stores, for instance, where the Barbados Workers’ Union is in negotiations with the company. And we were at a point where we were deciding, the discussion was going to and fro on the issue of wages. And guess what the employer did? The employer went around to workers saying, drop out the union. If you drop out the union, we will give you what you want. And this is in 2025 in Barbados that we are talking about.

“But the employer didn’t just stop there. They even made us feel that what they were saying to workers was done in ignorance. They didn’t recognise it as union busting, which we called it out as. But that said employer, most recently… has determined that they’re going to divide and rule within the workplace by paying those people who they don’t know are in the union. That hardware store has determined that they’re going to pay the people who they believe are non-unionised at the rate that they think they should and the others won’t get an increase. And that is but one example.”

Moore stressed that, while some employers assume they can identify unionised staff, many members deliberately keep their affiliation private.

“If you are on check-off, they will know [but] we have many workers that come in and pay us over the counter or pay through First Pay or use our banking details.”

She added that other employers are employing more sophisticated tactics, including “changing job titles… so that they can determine that people no longer fall in the bargaining unit”.

Despite these obstacles, the BWU has seen a notable rise in membership through discreet channels. Asked whether there had been a significant increase in workers joining anonymously, Moore confirmed: “Yes, and because of that increase, that’s why over the last three years in particular, the union has opened up for payments to be made via the First Pay option. People must not fear that they can’t be represented because in 2025, they still can’t let employers know that they are unionised.”

The general secretary noted that even shop stewards are sometimes unaware of the true level of union membership within their workplaces: “There’s one place we went in today where I was even challenging the shop steward, how many workers they believe they had unionised. And the figure that he gave me was at least half of what actually exists. And that’s something that we don’t even say to shop stewards, because if workers will come and want to join the union anonymously… that’s something that we don’t discourage and we don’t undermine.”

The union highlighted wages, lack of upward mobility, unpredictable schedules, and persistent health and safety concerns as major issues confronting workers at the companies visited.

Moore emphasised that education remains central to the BWU’s mission, inviting workers to join classes being offered, so they could learn about their rights and how to handle challenges in the workplace should they arise.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb