News

Following is a Statement of Solidarity with the Workers of RBTT/RBC in all territories.



Kingston. RBTT/ RBC, again Canadian owned and extra-regionally managed, is not respecting the basic Trade Union Rights of the workers employed at the Bank. The Bank continuously resists efforts made by the UNI Caribbean Trade Unions to meet and treat at the Regional level to discuss the concerns of the workers and how the regional plans and outlook for the Bank can affect the workers job security ,future and livelihood.

Further, many of the Banks policy decisions and structural changes are being unilaterally imposed in ways that directly affect the terms and conditions of work of Union members without engaging in the required levels of meaningful consultation with the Trade Unions as worker- representatives. Caribbean Unions will no longer tolerate this behavior by the Banks of this region.



Unilateral action is being taken by the Bank in the following areas:

· Terms and conditions of the Performance Appraisals system: Financial Incentives etc.

· Continuous setting of high and often unachievable targets especially given the difficult current market conditions and economic situation of many of our Caribbean territories

· Re classification of jobs and restructuring of the organization

· So called “Town hall meetings” are being organized and held throughout the Caribbean by a high level contingent of Canadian and Caribbean top Bank management, workers are being intimidated to attend “voluntarily” outside of working hours and without any input or consultation from their respective Trade Unions.



We, UNI Caribbean Trade Unions signal our commitment a single position of Caribbean Solidarity against this unilateral impositions by the Bank and again offer our willingness to meet and work together with these Multinational Bank Heads as the UNI Caribbean Finance Network, to resolve common challenges to the benefit of all concerned and to develop a common framework that will facilitate mutual respect, more harmonious industrial relations by the respect for basic Trade Union/Worker rights and to promote the very important longer term success of the Banks which includes the workers interests among the other stakeholders in our Region.



We leave you with this very relevant and timely quote by Eugene Debs:



“Labour is today the most vital and potential power this planet has ever known, and its historic mission is as certain of ultimate realization as is the setting of the sun.”



Joanne De Freitas Coordinator - UNI americas Caribbean Support Center Trinidad and Tobago: joanne.defreitas@uniglobalunion.org



Contact: marcio.monzane@uniglobalunion.org