Many of the recent “wildcat” strikes in Barbados have been triggered by workers’ frustrations over a lack of communication by management.Labour minister Colin Jordan made this assertion while speaking on Friday’s Down to Brass Tacks radio programme which discussed the current industrial relations environment which has seen a number of work stoppages in recent weeks in both the private and public sectors.This week, employees walked off their jobs at Duty Free Barbados, the United Commercial Autoworks Limited and the School Meals Department and these followed similar action at the Ministry of Education, the Transport Board and the Sanitation Service Authority.Suggesting that many of these incidents are a result of issues which have been simmering for a long time, Jordan said that such action by workers could have been avoided if management was more proactive.“We still have some ways to go with regards to worker/management relations. What we see in industrial relations is reflective of what we see with wider society - the inability of people to just sit down, be civil and talk through issues. Persons who consider themselves to be in leadership have to be concerned and considerate enough to engage with those who may be considered to be lower-level and talk through issues.
