Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Professor Eudine Barriteau, delivering the feature address yesterday at the 76th Annual Delegates Conference of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) at Solidarity House.
Among those in the audience yesterday were (front row, from right) Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Richard Sealy; Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Patrick Todd; and (second row, from right) Leader of the Opposition, Mia Mottley and Member of Parliament for St. Thomas, Cynthia Forde.
A leading academic has expressed concern about the absence of respect for individuals, institutions and processes regarding industrial relations matters in this country.
Professor Eudine Barriteau, Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, spoke to this as she delivered the feature address on the topic ‘The Future We Want: The Future You Deserve’, at the 76th Annual Delegates Conference of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) at Solidarity House. Her comments came as she noted that there can be no denying that the current industrial relations climate in this country is tense and appears to be filled with “charges and counter charges”.
“Mutual respect is sorely missing from the public discourse on determining the right course of action for the country. Respect is required now and in the future for the successful growth and operations of the Barbados Workers’ Union,” she stated.
Professor Barriteau made the point as she maintained that there has to be broad-based societal respect for the Union’s right to commence and conduct legitimate actions on behalf of its membership.
“If the Barbados Workers’ Union decides it needs to stage a march to gain the attention of Government, all sectors of the society can discuss to their heart’s content whether that action is warranted, or whether in its opinion, it signals the best tactical or weakest strategic action in light of previous actions and anticipated outcomes. What must never happen is a public disparaging and disrespectful dismissal of the hard-won right of the Union to initiate action on behalf of its members,” she said.
The Cave Hill Campus principal insisted that to criticise and disrespect the union and its members is tantamount to disrespecting our neighbours and ourselves. She bolstered that argument noting that the members of the BWU are not only union members, they are members of congregations, constituencies and communities and “constitute binding threads of the social fabric and social capital of this country".
Barriteau added that the unions must also be reminded of the mutuality of respect.
Her comments came as she told those gathered that it was imperative that the unions remember that Government is not the enemy of workers, just as union members are not the enemies of Government.
“I want to remind the unions, Government, civil society and all employers that the real enemy we face in the country today is lack of economic and social progress. This is also accompanied by unacceptable levels of inefficiency that occur in every sector of society, including the University of the West Indies. We all have to accept as our responsibility eliminating these inefficiencies,” she stated.
With that in mind, the University boss, rejected the notion that workers alone are responsible for inefficiencies in our economic and social sectors, adamant that whatever it is that blocks economic and social progress, constitutes a drag on national development. Those unacceptable conditions, she stated, are the real obstacles to our economic and social prosperity. (JRT)