Barbados NUPW deputy head addresses issues facing unions

Deputy general secretary (ag) of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) in Barbados Roslyn Smith says that membership of the various unions has been declining and as a result, the sustainability and longevity of the trade union movement is at risk.

Smith spoke about dwindling membership and other issues last Sunday, during the opening of the 46th annual Caribbean Public Service Association (CPSA) conference,{{more}} which was held at the Russell’s Auditorium at Stoney Ground.

But Smith said that while membership is an issue, “….all is not lost, the time is right for us to join together in solidarity and that is where our strength lies.”

Smith said that in 2016, a number of serious issues exist, among them, union recognition and workers still operating in poor working conditions.

She also listed unfair work place practices and managerial styles that cause high turnovers and high absenteeism rates and undue stress, discrimination of marginalized groups still being accepted as cultural norms and where the work of women is still not valued and seen as a man’s equal and promotion and employability are being traded through ‘sextortion.’

The outspoken Smith said that issues are numerous, “… where gender inequality and social injustice are still taboo topics, for fear of victimization; where workplace violence and domestic violence continue to be a part of societal norms; where productivity is determined by a neo-liberal agenda and contract work is the new normal, under the guise that it

creates a more efficient workforce and is economically viable; where on one hand the negative consequences of neo-liberalism for human security, social equity and democracy provides substantial impetus to opposition…”.

She noted that along with all these problems, we must also accept that the increasing integration of national economies in a single global market and the appearance of new world production systems are demanding stronger coordination of national and international trade union agendas.

“This may become a big challenge for trade unions that traditionally organize within the national context. Of course, the time is right for Caribbean public services unions to become stronger through solidarity and unification; now is not the time to protect our own self-interest because…a blow to one is a blow to all,” said Smith.

She added that if unions are to strive, “we cannot continue to follow old practices and archaic ideologies.”

Smith stated that the new world order of work agenda has set the pace and labour is now cheaper and more competitive and in some cases is quickly becoming replaced with technology and robotics.

“I must agree that there is an increased competition between men and women, the younger and older, the national and the alien, laying off of thousands of workers, a decrease in export and a limited competition capacity at the international level, the degradation of natural resources and the devaluation of skilled labour,” said Smith.

Smith stressed that all these things have an impact for the vulnerable groups and the fight for promoting opportunities for men and women to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity according to the international labour standards.

The conference also heard from Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, Minister of Labour Camillo Gonsalves, president of the Caribbean Public Service Association (CPSA) Elroy Boucher and general secretary of the CPSA Thomas Letang, among others.

The 46th Annual CPSA Conference, which comes to an end today, Friday, July 22, was held under the theme ‘Building stronger public service unions through solidarity and unification.’ (LC)