BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – News reaching SKNVibes states that workers in several public sector agencies in Barbados have staged a sit-in that is hurting several government entities.
That is compounded with the fact that several persons have refused to turn up to work at the Port Authorities, resulting in a contention between management and the Barbados Workers Union.
SKNVibes was told that the problem stemmed from the fact that several mooring [docking] workers called in sick and their replacement was allegedly overlooked by management - who instead called in the army to assist in docking one of the cruise vessels at the port.
That move irritated workers and the Union, with the General Secretary of that body telling Barbados Today that “the staff would not return to work until the matter is properly resolved”.
A colleague on the ground in Barbados indicated to SKNVibes that the strike action, which took full effect today (Jul. 19), stemmed from a new tax measure that was recently implemented on the island.
According to Barbados Today, four of the island’s major trade unions notified their workers via whatsapp about a sick out today, with many heeding the call, while others turned up for work.
The new measure, National Social Responsibility Levy, according to our colleague, is part of a series of new austerity measures that the Bridgetown administration has implemented.
According to reports, the administration increased the levy by a whopping eight percent from its two percent prior to July 1.
Protest actions are expected to continue tomorrow.
