BWU tells GAIA to shape up or face industrial action

The Barbados Workers’ Union has issued a stark warning that it will adopt a zero-tolerance stance on unresolved worker grievances at the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA), signalling that continued breaches of workers’ rights could trigger the full force of its industrial response.

On Friday, Deputy General Secretary Dwaine Paul told Barbados TODAY the union would not hesitate to sanction further industrial action if long-standing concerns affecting airport workers remained unaddressed.

He stressed that commercial and operational interests could not be allowed to supersede employee health, safety and welfare.

“We are taking a very zero-tolerance approach to having matters continue to reoccur and not be addressed. If there needs to be disruption, guaranteed there will be disruption,” Paul maintained.

He said the union was actively engaging the management of Goddard Catering Group (GCG) ground services over a number of concerns raised by staff.

“The Barbados Workers’ Union continues to engage with the management of GCG ground services in relation to a number of concerns expressed by the staff, mainly the matter of outstanding wages and salaries.

“To date we have had some indication from the company in terms of their willingness to resolve these matters,” Paul disclosed.

He said both sides were scheduled to meet again on January 19, with the union hopeful of a final settlement.

“The parties are to meet again on January 19, where we are hopeful that a final resolution could be reached on these matters.

“The workers are keen and very eager for resolution, and the Barbados Workers’ Union supports them in their advocacy for full resolution of these matters,” Paul said.

Against that backdrop, Paul said the union would shortly convene meetings with all of its airport divisions to gain a clearer picture of conditions across the facility and to work with relevant authorities on solutions.

He warned that unresolved problems were not confined to a single employer.

“Should these issues continue to present themselves within the different divisions at the airport, it is very possible that you can see similar action taken and supported by the union,” he said.

Paul pointed to persistent concerns, including excessive heat, staff conditions and inadequate facilities, arguing that employers had a legal and moral duty to address them.

“We have to understand that the airport runs on the back of the contributions of many men and women. We cannot put business above the health and well-being of any person. Money cannot be a basis on which we sacrifice people,” he contended.

He added that many of the problems reflected repeated failures rather than new challenges, despite Barbados having health and safety legislation in place for nearly a decade.

“We should not be telling businesses about matters relating to ensuring the wellbeing of staff, that should be routine,” Paul said.

“It is these issues that will see us taking the strongest action against them.”

Tensions soared late last year when scores of employees across several service companies at the airport expressed frustration over pay and working conditions.

It led to industrial action at GCG on November 27, on what was described as the airport’s busiest day of the year when approximately 8 000 passengers passed through the facility.

Paul said that the stoppage was triggered by a breakdown in the company’s responses to outstanding negotiation matters, resulting in between 50 and 75 workers on the morning shift, including ground staff, passenger services, customer service and maintenance employees, withdrawing their labour.

Duties resumed around midday after the union received correspondence from management addressing some key issues, with further talks scheduled.

Paul has since warned that GCG is not the only employer facing unresolved grievances and that further industrial action, potentially involving other airport companies, could follow if conditions are not addressed.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb