ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Representatives of Caribbean public service sector unions meet here this weekend amid concerns that the decision of the Barbados government to lay off workers in an attempt to reverse an ailing economy could spread to other regional countries. “We are here to look at a wide, wide range of issues,” said Sandra Messiah, sub-regional secretary for Public Services International,” adding that the meeting was taking place against the “challenges we are facing not only in terms of the working world…but certainly what has been happening over the last couple of weeks with discussions in the OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States) about public sector unions”. She said the meeting would be looking at issues such as collective bargaining strategies that need to be adopted “recognising that times are different” and the change in the international environment and its impact on the Caribbean.
