EDITORIAL :What will be Govt’s next move?

 

AS industrial unrest continues across the public service, one may indeed wonder if Government intends taking off its gloves to confront the new breed of trade union management which, as some people are suggesting, is bringing a new approach to industrial relations. 
 
Last week the Prime Minister, the Honourable Freundel Stuart, was moved to indicate concern about a new culture of trade unionism in the country. He explained what he meant by stating that this culture of trade unionism was springing into industrial action before clarifications, discussions or negotiations have been completed.
 
To our understanding it comes across that the trade unions are a bit hasty – they want payments for their members who stayed away from their jobs to attend union business; although it is the policy of successful governments to have all of the country’s revenue collection agencies brought under a single entity, the Barbados Revenue Authority – for which the NUPW was very much involved – is being held up at the Port; the union believes the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) must dig into its coffers and find enough funds to give a pay increase to GAIA workers; and the Government decided that Mr. Akanni McDowall must return to his previous post and that is an issue, when in fact there are reports of several others in the public service who were treated similarly with no intervention by the NUPW.
 
Some of the reasons the unions have put forward on the issues highlighted above are not convincing and, with respect to the NUPW, do not merit industrial action when, as stated by the Prime Minister, all of the procedures and dialogue were not exhausted before action was taken. Over the last week as well, some members of Government have accused the trade unions of playing politics. It is assumed that they have enough information to make those allegations, although there are private individuals who have come to similar conclusions about the political factor that is stoking the fire of militancy and that someone(s) in the background may be fueling it. We hasten to state here that there is no clear evidence of this.
 
So with the Prime Minister having assessed the situation and come to certain conclusions, it is now up to Government to decide whether enough is enough, end the talk that is getting nowhere and press ahead with what the administration sees as best for the country. Mr. Stuart, who chose his words carefully after having taken note of all that has gone on, said … “We may have to get back to the drawing board to see whether there is any alternative to the voluntary system that can guarantee us a more stable industrial relations environment…”
 
One of the messages the Government has been able to get across to the trade unions is that people who engaged in industrial action will not be paid for the time spent away from the office. The strategy by the NUPW in having a go slow by its members at the Ports of entry is no doubt in reaction to this position. But more is expected from Government to nip these things in the bud.

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