President of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), Akanni McDowall, and President of the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU), embracing after Thursday’s joint meeting.
THE major trade unions in Barbados are willing to accept a 50 per cent reduction of the controversial National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL), which took effect on July 1.
The unions want Government to bring the tax down from ten per cent, to at least, five per cent.
Speaking to the media on Thursday evening, at Solidarity Building, President of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), Akanni McDowall, told the media that the unions were willing to accept a reduction in the onerous tax.
The unions have been trying to get Government to review the tax which was increased from two to ten per cent, in the May 30, 2017 Budget.
McDowall made the point, following a two hour long, joint meeting of shop stewards from the NUPW, the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT), and the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU), at Solidarity Building, where the decision was made for the unions to stage a march from Queens Park, to Parliament, next Tuesday.
“We give a number of options which we would have indicated in the letter to the Prime Minister [Freundel Stuart] and to the Opposition Leader [Mia Mottley], along with the two Independent Members of Parliament. Of course, you know NUPW’s position is that a coping subsidy be instituted, or that the taxes the Minister would have announced be repealed,” McDowall said.
“I think the third position that we would have indicated in that, and which we would have communicated to our members this evening, is that we would accept a reduction of the NSRL at least by no more than five per cent.
“But we understand too that one particular action may not satisfy the population that we are serving, so there might need to be a combination of things to be done on behalf of the Government, in order to bring relief to the
members,” the President said.
Subsequent to a meeting with Government on Friday June 23, the unions have been meeting to devise appropriate responses to Government’s refusal to budge on the matters. (AH)