THE BARBADOS Workers’ Union (BWU) and Barbados Port Incorporated yesterday signed what both sides called a historic three-year collective agreement.
Barbados Port Inc.’s chief executive officer David Jean-Marie, one of the officials signing the document during a ceremony at the BWU’s Harmony Hall, St Michael headquarters, said the 85-page document was 45 years in the making.
Former BWU general secretary Sir Roy Trotman, who also signed the document as one of his final official acts, quoted the document as saying: “Since 1968 a number of agreements on different matters have been reached between the employer and the union but they have never been captured in any single document to the satisfaction of either of the parties.
“This document is an attempt to correct that situation and have a signed document detailing all the areas agreed upon during the 45-year period that has elapsed since the signing of the last agreement.
“The enormity of that task is recognised by all concerned and it is fully appreciated that though the document is drawn up in good faith the parties may not have captured all the agreed areas in this attempt.”
Sir Roy said the document was a signal to Barbados that the two agencies “continue to draw from the top layers of human relations and labour relations practices and customs to ensure that we provide the very best we can for our constituencies”.
He said they had the capacity as employers and workers “when we have a problem not to run from it but to stay with it, grapple with it, nuance it and produce a final result”. (TY)
