A labor dispute over union representation and alleged workplace violations has halted operations at Barbados’s sole sugar processing facility, disrupting the critical harvest season. Dozens of workers at the Portvale sugar factory, operated by Barbados Energy and Sugar Company Inc (BESCO), initiated strike action Wednesday following failed recognition efforts by the Unity Workers Union (UWU).
UWU General Secretary Caswell Franklyn reported that approximately 50 employees have withdrawn their labor in protest of management’s refusal to acknowledge their union despite claiming majority support among hourly workers. The conflict centers on competing representation claims between the newly-formed UWU and the established Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), which BESCO officially recognizes.
Franklyn detailed numerous grievances including alleged violations of labor regulations requiring excessive working hours without overtime compensation. “They are asking these workers to work 56 hours a week without any overtime payment,” he stated, noting this exceeds the legal 40-hour weekly threshold. The union leader further raised safety concerns regarding insufficient rest periods between shifts, particularly for personnel operating heavy machinery.
Additional allegations include unsanitary working conditions where employees reportedly cannot leave their stations to use restroom facilities. Franklyn described the factory’s physical state as hazardous, citing leaking roofs in areas containing high-voltage equipment that present electrocution risks.
BESCO responded by characterizing the action as an unauthorized strike, maintaining that BWU remains the legitimate bargaining agent. The company asserted that the current compensation model represents industry standard negotiated through proper channels and that workers are appropriately compensated for overtime. BESCO warned that participating employees traditionally forfeit pay during unauthorized work stoppages.
The dispute occurs against broader instability within Barbados’s sugar industry following the 2024 restructuring that created BESCO after the collapse of the state-owned Barbados Agricultural Management Company. A proposed ownership partnership with Co-op Energy failed in August 2025 due to financing disagreements, undermining worker participation initiatives and contributing to ongoing industry tensions.