WORKERS AT THE Barbados National Energy Co Ltd who downed tools yesterday are back on the job – for now.
They stopped work in support of colleagues in the gas plant who had safety issues which they said were not being addressed, but the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) warned that if promises were not kept, the workers would be back off the job.
BWU deputy general secretary Dwaine Paul said several issues had gone unresolved in the plant which is responsible for the circulation of natural gas.
“It is regrettable that we had to reach this stage where the workers had to collectively withdraw their labour. That was done because several issues relating primarily to health and safety concerns raised by the workers in that section have gone unresolved.
“We’ve received commitment today that work will begin immediately to correct those issues and it is only on that basis that the workers are going to be returning to work,” he told the media at the Woodbourne, St Philip location yesterday.
He added there was to be an assessment of the complaints and immediate resolutions.
“Note well that failure to address the issues reported by the staff will result in the workers returning to the street in support of their colleagues, because when it comes to the matter of health and safety, there is no room to negotiate. It is the onus on every employer to make sure that their workers are fully protected,” Paul said. ( AC)