The Barbados government has averted strike action by workers of the security firm, G4S Secure Solutions (Barbados) Limited, at least for the next 36 hours, as it contemplates the next course of action against the alleged discriminatory practices of the London-based security firm.
Prime Minister Mia Mottley, speaking to reporters on Monday night following the latest attempt to break the deadlock between the company and the Barbados Workers Union (BWU) representing the workers over their ongoing wage dispute, said she has asked Attorney General Dale Marshall to present a legal opinion on the issue on behalf of the government and its state-owned enterprises who currently do business with G4S.
Following the more than six hours of deliberations, it appears that G4S’ is maintaining its practice of hiring security stewards at a rate of BDS$7.42 per hour, to perform the same duties as security officers, who are paid BDS$8.79 per hour.
The rates have been in place since 2014. Over the same period, the company has not granted salary increases for workers with the exception of administrative staff.
Mottley said the move to ask the Attorney General for a legal opinion is to ensure the government absolves itself of the potential for being named a co-conspirator to potential breaches of the International Labour Organization (ILO)’s conventions.
“It is against that background… that I will wait for the legal opinion before we announce the next step that the Government of Barbados will take with respect to G4S,” she told reporters during the early hours on Tuesday.
“It is against this background that we have also asked the Barbados Workers’ Union to stay their hand with respect to further industrial action for the 36 hours, because this is not a case of the government, state-owned enterprises or the people of Barbados trying to conspire with anyone to pay anybody less than what they deserve or to act in a discriminatory manner against a category of worker who is performing equal work and hence would expect equal pay,” she added.
Mottley told reporters that the company admitted to the existence of its discriminatory wage structure, refused to grant salary increases, promoted security stewards to security officers and failed to hire a single full-fledged security officer since 2014.
“This government has already stated that we will not, under any circumstances… contribute to a situation where workers’ rights are being undermined, or where there is discrimination against anyone,” Mottley said.
“Equally, we are not a country where people act rashly, and to that extent, therefore, we have asked for the legal opinion, but we are equally going to put Barbadian workers first before we put the interest of those who would want to exploit Barbadian workers if that were indeed their motivation.
“It is against that background therefore that we expect on Wednesday, I expect that we will have a legal opinion. The Government will then reflect on the opinion and meet and consult back with the union and the company.
“I equally hope that the company would reflect on the import of what they have put on the table tonight because I do not know how you can admit that something is wrong and then ask to continue… and if that is how business is done in other parts of the world…. not ‘bout’ here,” she told reporters.
The discussions with the security company were conducted virtually and apart from Mottley, the government was also represented by Labour Minister Colin Jordan, Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams, Minister of Tourism Lisa Cummins, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Jerome Walcott.
The BWU was represented by its general secretary, Toni Moore, industrial relations consultant Sir Roy Trotman, as well as the BWU president for the G4S division Ormond Mayers.
Moore had on Monday informed the Labour Minister of her union’s intention to launch an islandwide industrial action starting on Tuesday after accusing the management of the Grantley Adams International Airport, where a number of G4S officers are employed, as seemingly taking sides with the management of G4S, by engaging in “strike-breaking” tactics.
Following the talks, Moore, who is now a government backbencher, confirmed that G4S employees had agreed to delay their strike until the completion of the government’s legal opinions and any decisions arising as a result.
Over the last two weeks, G4S workers have mounted a number of demonstrations outside the company’s headquarters, demanding pay increases and better working conditions.
CMC
