BWU speaks up

The Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) has added its voice to the concerns of the management hierarchy over at the Barbados Water Authority (BWA).

 

Acknowledging that there was a view that the BWU should have commented on the recent rupturing that has taken place at the BWA, a press conference was held on Thursday evening at Solidarity House. The BWU’s General Secretary, Toni Moore, revealed that the organisation has been critical of what seems to be an “abandonment of proper industrial relations principles in several levels of the Public Sector and other management approaches which disrespect, demean and debase workers” at the BWA. She added that despite this disregard of protocol, workers are still expected to deliver and work at improved levels of productivity. 

 

She highlighted that this situation has the potential to swiftly snowball into an unnecessarily large issue and stressed that the BWU was treating the situation with urgency to resolve. Moore explained that the BWU was not challenging the suitability of the latest appointments of persons, rather it was seeking to establish whether, at all levels, the recruitment and selection process was properly followed. She also added that it was a concern of the BWU on whether or not appropriate consideration had been given for and to those persons who have been functioning at those higher levels within the BWA, in some cases, for more than five years.

 

She divulged however, that the BWU is yet to is yet to receive full details from the Management Bargaining Unit at the BWA in relation to the imminent changes. 

 

Moore went on to explain that what the BWU was interested in, is establishing what further steps might be taken to complete the institutional upgrade at the strategic level which includes the level of the Board. 

 

“For indeed, if there is not a shakeup at that level of the Board of the BWA as well, the desired objectives of delivering satisfactory potable and sewerage services will not be achieved,” she stressed.