Union blinks first. Strike called off.

And the union blinked first.

On one day, off the next. We see this flip-flopping by the Barbados Workers Union as a sign of weakness, even though we ourselves can’t decide which side is right or wrong in this mixed-up Royal Shop/Sandy Lane/national strike matter.

Success comes to those who are decisive and those who endure to the end.

De Standpipe Crew

http://www.cbc.bb/content/view/14218/10/

Strike on hold
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
The planned nationwide general strike scheduled for tomorrow has been put on hold.

Over the past few weeks the Barbados Workers Union has been fighting for the re-instatement of workers at the Royal Shop in Bridgetown and at Sandy Lane.

Some 30 workers at the two establishments had walked off the job in solidarity with two colleagues they claim had been unfairly treated by management of the two companies.

The decision to call off the strike for tomorrow come about after meetings between the BWU and Prime Minister David Thompson.

“As Prime Minister he is not fully aware of what was going on in those areas because he is only just been made Prime Minister.

“That he’s very interested in the climate in which industrial harmony will be the order of the day.

“Three is that he believes that given time his Minister of Labour will be able to make a recommendation to the parties and that he would ask us the Barbados Workers Union in the national interest to pull back from the strike for tomorrow Wednesday.

“Mindful that the Prime Minister might have done this since we heard yesterday that he had been trying to contact me I did seek to have an assurance from the very large group that was present that if an approach were made and if that approach saw the government as being keen to affect a settlement where people would have respect and would not be trampled, that we would in the public interest call off the strike for tomorrow Wednesday.

“So we are announcing to the public of Barbados that the strike scheduled for tomorrow morning starting at 00.01 am Wednesday that strike is no longer on.

“We will keep the public informed regarding the ongoing discussions between Sandy Lane and Royal Shop and ourselves.

“We are expecting that they would realize that hardlining will force hardlining from the trade union and we expect them to exercise the same level of willingness to treat in a human manner what is a human problem.

http://www.nationnews.com/story/294325875078180.php

SHUT SHOP!
Published on: 2/19/08.

by MARIA BRADSHAW

THIS IS not a stay-at-home demonstration. It will be a national stoppage!

Those were the words of general secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), Sir Roy Trotman, last night. Several workers’ representatives turned up at the union’s Solidarity House auditorium, where one after the other they offered their unwavering support to the union and condemned owners of Sandy Lane Hotel and The Royal Shop over their refusal to reinstate 30 employees who were dismissed after they walked off the job.

Sir Roy, who had just spent eight hours earlier in the day engaged in meetings with both owners and their representatives at the Labour Office, listened attentively to each speaker before updating the packed auditorium.

He said they had “instructed very strongly” that there would be a work stoppage of all members of the BWU “because they believe that the behaviour of both companies is unsatisfactory and cannot be tolerated”.

“There has to be a change not only in the two companies but in the thinking of employers generally about the freedom of workers.

“We are preparing during the course of tomorrow for a shutdown and we are going to be taking our position and remaining with that unless in the intervening period something happens that would allow for us to feel that a serious effort towards a solution is in the offing,” said an upbeat Sir Roy.

He added the union was prepared to give respect to whoever wanted to bring about a resolution, even at the 11th hour.

Sir Roy said union members would be given instructions during the course of today on what the protest would entail.

“Wednesday is a demonstration. If after Wednesday, there is no effort made by any of the parties to try to reach an accommodation, then we will have another go but the strike will be longer,” he stated.