Workers of the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) may be getting outstanding backpay.
On Tuesday evening, following the Annual General Meeting of the BWA Workers Division, at Solidarity House, General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), Toni Moore, informed members of the media that once all goes according to plan, workers should be receiving backpay in a timely manner.
She explained that talks are still ongoing with BWA’s management, regarding the payment of the millions that would have accumulated over the past three years.
Moore noted that the total backpay was still being calculated, a process which must be carried out before a timeline for payment is set.
“We are aware that the Barbados Water Authority like a number of statutory boards and Government-owned organisations are operating within a climate of financial constraint and the Barbados Workers’ Union has not ignored that particular reality.
“But we think that we have been fairly successful in getting the company to recognise the importance of honouring the commitment. We are satisfied that the commitment is there by the company,” Moore said.
“We have to see how best that payment can be broken down, because we recognise although it’s no fault of ours, it’s the management’s fault for dragging on it. The reality still remains that at the point of agreement, the amount to be paid out in one fell swoop could be a little difficult. So we have looked at an arrangement that would see that money being paid in tranches, obviously for cash flow purposes,” she added.
The General Secretary suggested that while workers may want the monies owed to them all at once, the Union negotiates fairly, recognising that there are other realities that must be balanced. (AH)