NUPW president Akanni McDowall (left) and acting general secretary Roslyn Smith. (Photo: Barbados Today)
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Friday July 3, 2015 – Thousands of Government workers across Barbados will take part in a mass protest on Monday, as the island’s biggest public sector union puts pressure on the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) to either reinstate or pay 10 workers it sent on retirement last month.
The National Union of Public Workers announced yesterday that it will follow through on its threat of a national shutdown, with president Akanni McDowall declaring that “war” has been declared on the country’s labour force.
The decision followed the breakdown of talks between the BIDC and the NUPW, chaired by Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development Donville Inniss, ended in a stalemate on Wednesday.
Public servants are expected to hit the streets from 8:30 a.m.
President of the National Union of Public Workers Akanni McDowall announces plans for a mass protest on Monday.
Posted by The Nation Barbados on Thursday, July 2, 2015
The BIDC sent home 13 people – 10 of whom it retired –, as it invoked its right under the Statutory Boards (Pensions) Act to retire officers reaching the age of 60. Two of the other three had indicated, prior to the BIDC’s decision, that they wanted to retire by August, while the other was not appointed in a post.
The NUPW has insisted the move was illegal and has demanded an apology from the government agency for not consulting with it before sending home the workers, and either the withdrawal of the retirement letter or a commitment from the BIDC to pay the workers until they reach 67, the age at which retirement will be compulsory from January 2018.
“The unilateral stance taken by the BIDC to force retirement on a number of its employees is a reminder of the injustices to workers in Barbados. If this situation is not arrested, it raises the question of who will be next?” McDowall asked as he urged all stakeholders to join in the NUPW action.
The Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), the country’s largest trade union, had given its backing to the NUPW in its battle with the BIDC.
General secretary Toni Moore told Barbados Today that still stands, but reserved comment on the decision to strike until she is officially informed by the NUPW president.