Murrell: Respect role of trade unions

 

A marked reluctance from employers to engage trade unions marred 2016.
 
However, head of the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB), Cedric Murrell, is expressing his hopes that this year harmonious trade relations will return and prevail.
 
Calling for less hostility between the two entities, he outlined that the unwillingness of some employers to respond to issues and grievances expressed by trade union leaders was creating a climate of frustration and distrust.
 
“This climate is not a good one if there is to be frank discussion of differences, resolution of conflict and bargaining in good faith,” he said, while addressing members of the media during a conference at the CTUSAB Beckles Road headquarters on Thursday morning.
 
Urging for there to be a turning of the page, Murrell encouraged employers to respect the role and function of trade unions and staff associations through the quick response to correspondence from the leadership of these entities; by respecting the function of union leaders as they endeavoured to make representation on behalf of their members; and by genuinely engaging the leadership in an effort to resolve differences and minimise conflict.
 
“It must after all be recognised that union leaders are only mouth pieces of the membership of their organisations,” he said.
 
Admitting that due to the economic climate, employers were not as able to provide for their enterprises, he stated that employees were also under more pressure to produce and provide for their households and as such, unions must “still strive to represent vigorously the point of view of our members and we are calling for a climate in which we can do that with respect”. (JMB)

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