Skip to main content

Decoding Unity Workers Union : Perceptions vs. Realities in Winston Scott Polyclinic Protest

 


Against the backdrop of the December 9, 2023, Barbados Today exposé titled "Nurses, unions protest conditions at Winston Scott Polyclinic," a compelling narrative unfolded. Nurses, predominantly associated with the Unity Workers Union (UWU), orchestrated a walkout to address reported environmental concerns. However, a thought-provoking photograph captured members of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) engaging with protesting nurses, prompting the pivotal question: "What perception do you get from the photo?"

On the surface, the image projects a united front between a NUPW official and nurses, suggesting a collaborative effort to address shared grievances. Yet, a deeper scrutiny unravels a nuanced storyline. Despite the visible NUPW presence, it becomes apparent that the Unity Workers Union took the lead in initiating the industrial action. This incident serves as a poignant reminder of the intricate dynamics between unions and their members, challenging conventional perceptions and underscoring the evolving landscape of trade unionism in the public sector.

As we navigate this exploration, it becomes evident that things are not always what they appear to be. In recent years, Unity has been drawing members from public sector organizations, notably those who were previously part of NUPW and BWU. A common complaint among these members has been dissatisfaction with the level of representation.

Join us on this exploration as we unwrap the layers beneath the visual surface, highlighting the necessity to dig beyond initial impressions. Reveal the genuine complexities in the continually evolving landscape of trade union dynamics, where perceptions may not consistently correspond with the underlying realities.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Employee Goes Berserk and Explodes at the Rubis Coverley Service Station Pump in Barbados: Was This a Preventable Workplace Breakdown?

Image
A Workplace Commentary on the Rubis Coverley Incident By  Peter MacD Earle BSc, LLM, Employment Law Consultant On Friday, May 17, 2025, Barbadians awoke to disturbing news involving the aftermath of a workplace conflict that escalated dramatically. Daniel Arnold Vincent Belle, 38, a former employee of the Rubis Coverley gas station in Christ Church, appeared in the District “B” Magistrates’ Court and admitted to causing extensive damage to the station—an estimated $7,000 worth—just days after his dismissal from the company. The incident involved the smashing of a glass door, breaking two windows, damaging a display unit, and tearing off seven fuel pump nozzles. Surveillance footage led to Belle’s arrest in Oistins. While this act of destruction was clearly criminal, the context in which it occurred raises serious concerns about workplace conflict, employer responsibilities, and the role of mental health in employment relations. . Let me be clear from the outset: I do not have any a...
Read more

Barbados' Minimum Wage Time Bomb: Are Businesses Being Set Up to Fail?

Image
   Peter MacD Earle BSc, LLM Employment Law Leicester De Montfort Law School Effective June 1, 2025, Barbados will implement a new minimum wage of $420 per week, a 23.5% increase from the current $340. In addition, legislation proposes an automatic 2% annual wage increase starting in January 2026. But beneath this progressive façade lies a stark, structural truth: Barbados has neither the machinery to enforce the law nor the political will to protect the most vulnerable. While this policy signals social justice on paper, in practice it could collapse under its own contradictions—and set workers, employers, and the economy up for failure. ________________________________________ The Illusion of Legal Protection While the government trumpets the wage hike as a win for working-class families, Barbados remains woefully unequipped to enforce the new standard. Consider: • Thousands of workers never received the current $340 minimum wage. • Many will not receive the new $420 rate...
Read more

Former BWA Boss in Barbados Fired from WASA After $13.4M Plan Collapses

Image
  By Peter MacD Earle BSc. LLM | Employment Law Consultant | June 2025 From BWA to WASA: The Rise and Fall of Keithroy Halliday St. Kitts-born Keithroy Halliday was appointed General Manager of the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) on February 15, 2017, bringing a strong track record in strategic leadership and regional public sector reform. Over the next seven years, he would become a defining figure in the BWA’s modernization efforts—managing national emergencies such as the South Coast sewage crisis and spearheading an island-wide mains replacement initiative. By 2020, Halliday had risen to Acting Chief Executive Officer, a role he held during a period of deep organizational restructuring. His resignation in August 2024 marked the end of a significant chapter in the BWA’s evolution—and the beginning of a controversial new role abroad as CEO of Trinidad and Tobago’s Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), from which he would be abruptly dismissed less than a year later amid sweeping po...
Read more