TELECOMMUNCIATIONS COMPANY LIME said it remains committed to reaching “a fair and reasonable agreement on a wages deal” for its workforce, even as employees today gave the Barbados Workers Union (BWU) their support to strike action if needed.
During a three-and-a-half hour meeting at Solidarity House headquarters this morning, more than 300 workers agreed with the union to give the management of the company one last chance to come to the table with an improved pay offer.
This follows LIME’s negotiation team returning to the table this week with the same offer it had made last December.
BWU General Secretary Sir Roy Trotman, describing that as “a gross insult”, warned Thursday that if a more high level LIME delegation did not show up to a meeting on Monday morning with a sweetened deal, strike action result.
The BWU has put a proposal for a 17 percent increase on the table but LIME has countered that with a seven percent pay hike which has been flatly rejected by the union.
In a statement issued this evening, Head of Human Resources at LIME, Stephanie Catling-Birmingham, said the management was disappointed by the notice of intended industrial action.
“We have a good offer on the table and we have not closed off the door to negotiating with the union. We cannot recklessly agree to extravagant wage increases that may have a devastating long-term effect on our business. Our offer is based on what the business can sustain given our operating costs, investment, the commitment to maintaining jobs and staying competitive,” she said.
“Over the last three years, LIME has placed a huge emphasis on maintaining jobs, building the business and positioning it so that there is minimal impact on headcount. The international economic climate hasn’t bypassed us. Our business has also been impacted by rising utility costs and increases in the inputs needed to stay viable and competitive.”
The company said it hoped that “reasonableness and good sense will prevail so that the parties can come quickly to an agreement that benefits all.” (DP)
