BWU never stopped calling for salary increase

The Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) has never stopped calling for a salary increase for those workers which it represents.

This is according to a BWU press release sent to The Barbados Advocate yesterday.

“The public should be aware that the BWU has never stopped insisting on an actual increase in wages and salaries, rather than on any token lump-sum payment; for it is our view that a lump sum would give workers instant gratification for a weekend and return them to the same position in the following week,” it was stated.

Rather, they are of the view that an increase in wages and salaries, albeit a small one, would still resound to the benefit of the workers.
“The BWU recognises that, even where a modest increase is applied to wages and salaries, it will apply week on week or month on month and thus contribute to our national economic activity and of course, it will be of lasting value to all public servants and will improve their pensions,” it was further pointed out.

In fact, they contacted the Ministry of the Civil Service to speak to the issues that they were bringing to the bargaining table, which were “money and appointments”.

“The BWU has written to the Ministry of the Civil Service to advance negotiations on those two outstanding issues. Some progress has been made regarding the issue of appointments, but it has been too slow. And of course there is the need for an adjustment in salaries,” it was stated in the release.

Furthermore, from their understanding in a meeting that they had with the Prime Minister of Barbados, the Honourable, Freundel Stuart in June, 2017, that this administration would be in a better position to make a offer with respect to wages and salaries in October of last year when they would have received income from the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) over a three-month period.

“The BWU understood from our meeting in June last year with the Prime Minister that by October 2017, Government would have been in a position to make a wages and salaries offer based on revenue intake from the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) for the three month period July to September.”

The Trade Unionist said that private sector workers would also benefit from this “economic stimulation” and the Government’s move towards more efficient “economic activity”.

It further stated that the union has renewed their call for the Minister of Civil Service to therefore respond to their union on this matter.
“The BWU wishes today to repeat its call to the Minister responsible for the Civil Service to empower his technocrats to meet and urgently treat with our union regarding a meaningful wage and salary increase.” (PJT)