GOD IS GOOD …..
Monday 16th March 2020 Sanitation Service Authority . Wildey St.Michael, Barbados
SSA-Workers-on-strike
Pictured at right in above photo – Hon. Trevor A. Prescod, J.P., M.P. Minister of Environment and National Beautification is in a discussion with one of the “striking” workers.
Staff of the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) and the Minister of Environment held an emergency meeting this morning
in regards to concerns about the COVID-19 virus.
Some of the workers voiced their concern over claims over a lack of hand sanitizers which they claimed was not available on the island and they was at risk.They also spoke to the fact that there were no provisions being made for hazard pay or health insurance for many of the workers.
Public Relations Officer for the SSA, Carl 'Alff' Padmore elaborated on the nature of the stoppage and offered apologies to the public.
He emphasized the workers were not on strike.
"It is not being deemed a strike but rather a work stoppage and we believe that the next case from here is negotiations and sitting at the table of reason."
Speaking to the concerns of the lack of sanitizer and masks for workers, Padmore said:
"The minister has given instructions of some suppliers that we should reach out to and we are working at that to see how we could source additional sanitizers and other protective equipment. We know that these people are on the front line and we are just hoping that common sense prevails and reasoning. No panic at all."
Minister Prescod went into a session with a representative from the NUPW and SSA Management after 11 am this morning with workers still awaiting final word on the matters.