Peter Earle's WorkPlace Conflicts Blog

  Introduction The ongoing Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) sickout, now in its second day, has sparked intense debate about teachers’ rights, government priorities, and the role of unions in protecting labour benefits. While the BUT insists that its actions are a necessary response to unresolved grievances, the Minister of Educational Transformation has accused the union of playing politics. However, history and logic suggest otherwise. Unions rarely relinquish hard-won benefits, and the origins of term leave in Barbados reveal its deep roots in the island’s colonial past. Moreover, the government’s claim of budgetary constraints rings hollow when juxtaposed with instances of wasteful spending in less critical areas. Amidst the tension, a senior official from the Ministry of Education has acknowledged that that ministry supports term leave is a reasonable and necessary benefit for teachers, but emphasized that ongoing negotiations are needed to reach a practical agreement. This ac...

Case Summary: De Bank Haycocks v ADP RPO UK Ltd (Employment Appeal Tribunal) This UK case offers an important lesson for HR professionals and business owners—both in the UK and jurisdictions like Barbados—about the legal requirements surrounding redundancy. Specifically, it highlights the critical importance of consulting employees at an early or formative stage, before any final decisions are made. ________________________________________ Facts of the Case Mr. De Bank Haycocks was a recruitment consultant employed by ADP in the UK, working in a team of 16 for a single client. When the client's demand for recruitment services dropped due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, ADP decided by May 2020 that redundancies were necessary. Following a directive from its US parent company, ADP assessed all 16 employees against subjective selection criteria. Mr. De Bank Haycocks received the lowest score. On 30 June 2020, he was invited to a consultation meeting where he was informed of th...

Recently, a caller on Barbados’ popular radio show Brass Tacks cried out in frustration: “I can’t sleep, man! I’m breathing it in all night long!” The source of his distress? The pungent, inescapable odor from a nearby medicinal cannabis facility. While many celebrate the economic promise of Barbados’ emerging cannabis industry, this haunting testimony exposes a deeper issue — are we ignoring the very real threats to worker health, public safety, and societal well-being in the rush to cash in on "green gold"? ________________________________________ 🌿 An Industry with Promise — and Peril With hopes pinned on medicinal cannabis to spark post-pandemic recovery, the Barbadian government has laid the regulatory groundwork for a potentially lucrative sector. If banking barriers are resolved, the industry could: • Create jobs in farming, distribution, research, and compliance • Open international export markets • Provide farmers and entrepreneurs new streams of income But be...