You know how it is, folks. Every six weeks, another group goes on strike or work action because government hasn’t paid them what is owed.
If it isn’t Ministry of Health workers, or the Pharmacy Owners Association not being paid then, it is contract workers who are being stiffed by Government. Or maybe business folks waiting a year or more for Inland Revenue rebates.
Today, the sewerage treatment workers went on job action over unpaid monies.
Hey Mama… put the mortgage payment on the charge card – then get a loan for your wedding ring. We’ll buy some groceries ‘an some rum and have a great weekend.
Nevermind paying the loan for the car. We’ll park it at Auntie Moses’ place ‘an the bank they never find it! Eat, Drink ‘an be Merry, for tomorrow the World Bank or Japan or China will bail us out!
Now where’s that bottle ‘a Mount Gay, Darlin’ ?
CBC News: Work Stoppage At Sewerage Plants
9 Comments
March 4, 2007 at 4:14 am
From what I have heard on the street the BWA Group is the one Group that Sir Roy does not seem capable of controlling. It appears that this has been so for a while. Apparently the Secretary of the BWA’s Union Division appears to be the de facto leader and calls strikes before informing the union. The said person lives in Owen’s constituency and is a very active branch member as well as a council member of the BLP.
I am also told that these workers are usually on the ball and seemnto win most if not all the battles with management.
It seems as though the BWU Rep could not get the workers to return. It was only after the President of the BWA Division arrived that any real progress was made. This is my interpretation after listening to the news item on VOB.
Many people are watching with interest the way in which Sir Roy has been handling recent IR issues. He is Owen’s boy so I was not surprised when nothing happened after GOB legislated the last salary increases. He now seems to be mellowing somewhat as he announced a postponement of the threatened strike action at the Port Authority. My feeling is that he received a call from Owen who told him to keep things quiet before Cricket World Cup.
Can you imagine that food prices increased by over 25% and Sir Roy has done nothing…..He certainly has not matched up and down like when Sandi reduced wages by 8%. The question is whether or not the 25% has impacted more negatively than the 8%.
March 4, 2007 at 4:25 pm
It’s called living on the Never-Never!
and again…Barbados cannot afford itself!
March 5, 2007 at 4:19 pm
BFP- When I saw the headline of this post I thought maybe Government had run out of money, which would not be surprising the way they are throwing it around on CWC.
On reading below the headline, however, I see that it is the same old bureaucratic inefficiency. Rather different.
Perhaps the headline show have read, “Can’t Meet Payroll ON TIME Again.” But I realise it wouldn’t have had the same appeal. That is the sort of thing RA takes you to task for, isn’t it?
March 5, 2007 at 4:38 pm
How do you know it is “bureaucratic inefficiency” nitpickeer? The government delays and delays like I do when I don’t have enough money this week.
Once or twice is inefficiency. This is about delaying payments for months or years when they knew the payments were due. They stretched things too far and now those bills are due.
March 5, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Lets drop this non-sensical debate and talk some poll results, shall we? Where are the Dems on this blog? Somebody please talk to me.
March 5, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Bim Visitor x 5-
Of course Government stiffs every firm they owe money to, but they are not going to do this to union members who have Sir Roy to run to, led by one from O$A’s backyard. That’s how I “know” (in my heart and head) its inefficiency, not insolvency.
Not necessarily inefficiency in getting the cheques issued, mind you. More likely inefficiency in getting the funds freed up from the Subvention package where they are lodged
P.S. Royalrumble- With all due respect, this is more “on topic” than DLP/BLP polls.
March 6, 2007 at 1:51 pm
RR
They actually had a poll?
…… even after what happened in St. Lucia?
Will have a look see when I get a chance. Been away from a computer for a few days and haven’t read a newspaper for a while.
March 6, 2007 at 2:22 pm
What surprises me about the polls is the way the results have been interpreted. Most want a change in Government. More people want Arthur as leader than those who want Thompson. Since I am assuming as a matter of logic that these were two separate questions, then I conclude that the Cabinet of Barbados (Owen apart) and most of the BLP backbench may be in serious danger of losing their seats. Barbadians, in a Presidential election, would vote for Arthur overwhelmingly, but we don’t have one of those. So, call me crazy but, unless the many undecideds are BLP supporters, we are going to have a change of Government soon.
March 7, 2007 at 1:15 am
justice what a day that will be