NUPW wants justice for former NCC workers
THE National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) wants justice for its members who are former workers of the National Conservation Commission (NCC), and is speaking out against the decision by the Employment Rights Tribunal to postpone its ruling until it hears the Barbados Workers’ Union’s case.
Acting Deputy General Secretary of the NUPW, Wayne Walrond, vehemently objects to that decision, suggesting that it is making a mockery of the situation. Moreover, he is contending that the two trade unions have made separate and distinct claims, and so the judgements too should be separate. In fact, Walrond said the delay is really ill-advised, as the decisions may not be the same.
His comments came as he spoke to members of the media following an over two-hour meeting with the former workers, many of whom were quite vocal as they left the NUPW’s Dalkeith headquarters on Friday afternoon. He charged that for the Tribunal to delay the ruling, is an injustice to the former workers, who have been off the job for two years.
“We made a distinct and separate claim from the Barbados Workers’ Union. Our case is finished, give us our judgement; that is our position…
“They [workers] have a legitimate expectation to have that justice delivered, given that the counsellors on both sides – the NCC and the workers – would have done their deliberations in terms of making their case,” he said.
The union official also said it is unfortunate that the Union was not formally told of the decision to delay the ruling. He made the point while noting that the scores of workers, many of whom are still unemployed, are suffering as a result of being terminated.
“They are facing debt collection, it caused dislocation of families, people can’t see their families; children can’t go to school; people have to seek psychiatric and psychological assessments. Some have lost their homes because they were laid off unceremoniously, unfairly dismissed, and they feel hurt by the process,” he said.
He added, “And they have to turn to begging now for daily sustenance. These people have been destroyed, their human dignity has been ripped from them, in terms of this whole situation.”
Meanwhile, he said the Union has made no determination as yet regarding if they will challenge the Tribunal’s decision in the court of law, but will continue to press for justice to be served.
“Once we shift outside the Tribunal arrangement into legal, we’re going down another path... another long, winding path. But we are saying that there is the capacity, if there is the will there, to still deliver a judgement,” he said. (JRT)