The dispute between two trade unions and the National Conservation Commission (NCC) over the agency’s controversial dismissal of several workers goes before the Labour Department tomorrow – and one union leader isn’t ruling out the possibility of the troubles increasing.
“I am sure both unions are prepared to escalate this if it comes to that,” general secretary of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), Dennis Clarke, told the DAILY NATION yesterday. “It is something that one would not want to do, but if we have to we will.”
He had turned up at the NCC’s Codrington, St Michael headquarters to talk with workers and with the hope of having a meeting with general manager Keith Neblett to discuss concerns about the retrenchment.
But trade unionists, as well as the scores of laid-off NCC workers, were prevented by security personnel from entering the compound.
The situation changed later when a meeting was quickly arranged between officials of the NUPW, the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) and the NCC management.
