Despite their critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic, supermarket workers are still suffering from low wages and poor working conditions, the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) declared Friday.
The union, which marked its 83rd anniversary with a supermarket tour aimed at highlighting the rights and conditions of frontline workers in the retail trade, later called for solidarity among the workers, encouraging them to fight for their rights.
“The major complaints received from the workers were all related to compensation,” said Deputy General Secretary Dwayne Paul, giving insight from the tour. “The level at which the staff members expressed their dissatisfaction was significant. These workers who provided essential services during the COVID period still have not been recognised by the entities for which they served.”
Paul called on all retail workers to unite under the BWU: “It is time that we come together under one umbrella, the Barbados Workers’ Union, to lobby for better. This is not a time to be afraid. This is a time to stand up and demand what is due to you.”
General Secretary Toni Moore noted the union’s commitment to fighting for workers across industries and also called for greater respect and fair compensation for the essential services of those employed in retail.
She told reporters that during the tour, the union officials witnessed first-hand harsh working conditions faced by supermarket employees.
“We walked into a supermarket and inside was hot. We found ourselves pushing towards the meat section just to get a little coolness,” Moore said. “Managers know that the air conditioning units are not working, and they expect workers to produce in these kinds of conditions.”
In addition to advocating for better working conditions, the BWU reiterated the need for its most recently launched campaign, dubbed ‘Bet Who Bet You’.
The initiative is aimed at urging the government to publish the prices of retailers who have remained committed to fair pricing amid rising living costs.
“We called for the government to publish the prices of those retailers who, although the compact has been suspended, have remained faithful to honouring those prices that were agreed,” Moore explained. “We want workers to know that not all retailers are keeping their prices at ridiculous levels.”
She further noted that the union also utilised the tour to record prices at various supermarkets, threatening that, “if the Government of Barbados doesn’t do it, we are going to publish, to our members at least, so they know where to go to benefit from better prices.”
Moore pointed to last year’s anniversary endeavour, which focused on hotels, describing it as a success.
“That led to legislation being passed in the Parliament of Barbados in February this year,” she noted. “We saw, even more recently, in July, minimum standards legislation and regulations being put in place to ensure that the collective agreement the Barbados Workers’ Union has been instrumental in negotiating with the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) over six years has set the minimum standards for the industry.”
The union boss highlighted the importance of reaching out to supermarket workers this year: “We committed to workers that we had to deal with one area at a time and that we were going to get around to those areas wherever we recognise that workers are being undermined.”
She pointed out that the ongoing challenges faced by supermarket employees need to be addressed, especially in light of the struggles encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We told frontline workers that we would not let them forget you. What we have seen since COVID is that although frontline workers were celebrated for their contributions, there has been an effort to pull back on gains.
“We want to reach out to say it’s about you. We care about you, but you have to care enough about yourselves too to step up to the plate,” she said, further encouraging workers to join the union and stand up for their rights.
Alejandra Thomas, the BWU’s legal officer, reiterated the union’s commitment to supporting supermarket and fast food workers.
“Unfortunately, we have seen a decline in the respect for the workers in the industry. One of those issues is the living wage,” she said.
Thomas called for the public’s support, urging them to recognise the hard work of supermarket employees.
“Come together, recognise that you have a family member who works in these industries. We want you to recognise the issues and to continue to support us going forward,” she said.
(SM)
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