Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) Workers Stage Work Stoppage, Demanding Incentives Pay and Better Conditions

The state-run Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) has declared a “clear” breach of protocol regarding Monday’s work stoppage by some of its employees which continued for a second day.

The workers, including truck drivers, loaders and administrative staff staged a wild cat strike backed by the Caswell Franklyn-led Unity Workers Union (UWU) which is not recognised by the SSA management. The workers are demanding a resolution to outstanding incentives pay and better working conditions.

The National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), which is the recognised bargaining agent for SSA employees ordered its members to return to the job, while Franklin insisted his members will remain on the picket line until their demands are met.

But SSA Chairman Ramon Alleyne said on Tuesday evening that the authority does not have any dispute with the NUPW as both sides continue talks.

“My position is that there is no dispute, so you can’t have a resolution to something that does not exist,” Alleyne told Barbados TODAY. “The NUPW made it clear that it does not have any dispute with the authority. There is a process going forward which started without reference to any of the persons who are behind this stoppage; and will continue and will be settled.”

The SSA chair was asked what has to be done to get the disgruntled employees who remained off the job again on Tuesday to return to work.

“There is nothing that has to be done,” he said. “Employers get lectured often by unions as to protocols, and we have to follow them, and you must stick with them, except when they wish to breach them.

“And in this situation, there is a clear breach of the protocol. So, the only thing that is required is for them to go back to work.

“If there was a legitimate dispute, if there were a legitimate complaint, if something was outstanding, all of that would be possible. But there is none of those things in existence. So, there is nothing to be done, save for them to carry out their obligations.”

But Alleyne acknowledged that the industrial action has slowed down the government’s waste management agency’s daily operations.

The SSA has taken steps to mitigate the effects on the service, he said.

“I wouldn’t say it hasn’t affected…it has affected, but we put contingencies in place…the major deliverables of the authority have been met, and we will continue to meet them,” Alleyne disclosed.

He also reported that fewer workers continued to take part in the industrial action on Tuesday.

“As compared to yesterday, there were significantly greater numbers out. So, what was a minority yesterday has now dropped somewhat. The evening shifts were better facilitated than the morning, but in a comparative way, even more workers were out today than yesterday. So, the numbers are dwindling in terms of those participating in any sort of stoppage.”

At the heart of the issue, as far as UWU General Secretary Franklyn is concerned, is a proposed incentive payment that workers say has been delayed for months despite funds being provided by the government as far back as February.

In a strong condemnation of the SSA management, he said on Monday: The money has been paid into sanitation, and there’s no excuse for a four-month delay. We want the money now.”

Franklyn accused the SSA of trying to deprive workers of the incentive money intended for them.

He also criticised the NUPW, accusing it of complicity in exploiting workers owing to political ties, a charge NUPW General Secretary Richard Green has denied.

Green said the NUPW had consistently improved workers’ terms and represented their interests through established negotiating processes.

“We advocated for a fair distribution of incentives,” he said, adding the NUPW was not formally sanctioning the current action.

Franklyn vowed the UWU-backed protest would continue until demands were met, threatening it could withdraw support for other unions’ strikes.

(emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb)