Workers at the Barbados Community College were off the job today protesting the late payment of salaries, a problem which they say has been plaguing them for over a year and a half.
BCC staff gathered in the corridors of the Howell’s Cross Road institution.
Senior industrial relations officer with the National Union of Public Workers, Wayne Walrond, told reporters this morning the workers were originally scheduled to be paid on Tuesday, however up until11 a.m., their salaries had not been lodged on their various bank accounts.
“We are concerned about this constant delay. We have had constant meetings before to raise our concerns on this matter. The management would have indicated that there was a delay in the transfer of funds and hence the circumstances were beyond their control. We would have insisted to the management that this needs to be arrested because it creates hardship on workers in terms of late fee payments, and not being able to honour their
financial obligations.
“The union met with the administration and we were given the undertaken that every effort would be taken to ensure that it would not occur. We would have expected that this would have been rectified. There is a lack of communication also where the workers are just being told that the pay would be delayed, but there is not communicating as to the reason why. Therefore we are saying that between the agencies, whether the Community College, the Ministry of Education, the Treasury, this has to be a corrected to ensure that this situation is dealt with,” he said.
Today, scores of workers gathered in the corridors of the Howell’s Cross Road institution, demanding answers while complaining that the situation had been going on for far too long. Walrond noted that the workers were adamant that the status quo could not remain and that they must receive their salaries
and wages.
BCC workers complain that the situation has been going on for far too long.
“They will stay put, they will report for duty, but it will not be the usual business until they are paid,” he said.
Efforts to reach principal Gladstone Best were unsuccessful. Reporters were told he was “in a meeting and was not available at this time”.
ryangilkes@barbadostoday.bb