The Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) says it is actively engaging C.O. Williams Construction after the company indicated that about 30 workers could be made redundant later this month, as concerns grow over the impact of the layoffs on employees and the wider construction sector.
In a statement, the BWU said it has been formally involved in discussions with the company on its intention to make workers redundant shortly after June 12.
“The union does not treat any redundancy exercise as a routine administrative matter. Behind every name on a list is a worker, a household and a set of obligations that cannot be reduced to figures on a page. Our immediate priority is to protect the dignity, rights and entitlements of the affected workers and to ensure that no worker is unfairly treated in the process,” the BWU stated.
It noted that C.O. Williams had linked the proposed layoffs to business pressures, including the loss of contracts and challenges within the wider construction industry.
“While those explanations are for the company to advance, the union has made it clear that workers must not be asked to carry the full burden of conditions they did not create. The union has sought to engage in meaningful consultation, to receive justified evidence on the basis for proposed redundancies, to ensure fair and objective selection.”
It warned that the issue raises broader concerns about the future of the construction industry and the need to protect employers who maintain proper labour standards.
“Responsible employers who invest in proper wages, training, safety and decent working conditions must not be forced to compete with contractors who cut corners and drive down standards. Barbados needs a construction industry that values skill, experience and decent work,” the statement added.
Former president of the C.O. Williams Construction division of the BWU, Ricardo Payne, said the development was not entirely unexpected given the large number of workers recruited when the company anticipated significant projects.
Wider crisis
“To be honest, we took on a lot of people in 2023 because there was a lot of work expected to come on stream. The understanding at the time was that there would be a substantial amount of projects available and the company hired based on those expectations. Those are the people who are now being affected, particularly many of the labourers and general workers,” he said.
“At the end of the day, if the work does not materialise at the level that was anticipated, the company still has to manage its operations. From my understanding, that is one of the factors behind what is happening now.”
Despite the layoffs, Payne said he did not believe the situation signalled a wider crisis for the construction industry.
“I don’t really see this happening across the sector. C.O. Williams is the largest construction company in the country right now. When you compare it with other companies, many of them have significantly fewer workers. From what I understand, this situation is tied to circumstances specific to C.O. Williams and the volume of work that was expected versus what is currently available,” he said.
However, general secretary of Unity Workers’ Union (UWU), Caswell Franklyn, argued that the challenges facing C.O. Williams were linked to broader labour and Government policies rather than solely companyspecific issues. While noting that UWU does not represent workers at C.O. Williams, Franklyn said he had occasionally assisted some employees in disciplinary matters and was concerned about the impact of imported labour on local construction firms.
“I do not represent workers at C.O. Williams. They are represented for the most part by the Barbados Workers’ Union. However, the company cannot maintain its workforce because Government is allowing too many people to come into Barbados to do work that can be done by the staff at C.O, Williams,” he charged.
He contended that some foreign workers were being employed at rates below those paid to Barbadian construction workers, creating an uneven playing field for companies adhering to negotiated wage agreements.
“C.O. Williams has to pay wages that have been negotiated with the union and they have generally paid fairly decent wages. Nobody is going to use C.O. Williams when there are contractors bringing in workers who are earning a fraction of what C.O. Williams is paying. In some cases, these workers are earning significantly less than the standard rates that local workers receive,” he stressed.
Franklyn accused Government of failing to adequately protect local workers and employers who complied with established labour standards.
When contacted for comment, managing director of C.O Williams Construction, Neil Weekes, declined to discuss the matter but said the company would be responding in due course. (TRY)
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