The scores of long-suffering employees of the Barbados Advocate who have not been paid for close to a year were told by management this week that a new High Court order to release their funds would be served on the bank early next week.
Barbados TODAY understands that the Acting Managing Director Sean Eteen met on Thursday with the staff and updated them on the court’s decision to discharge two previous orders that effectively froze the company’s bank accounts after a legal dispute broke out between director Gail Sherry Anne Padmore and the surviving sons of the late owner Sir Anthony Bryan.
One worker who attended the meeting reported that they were advised not to start rejoicing too soon even though the injunction that blocked access to the company funds was lifted last December.
“The crux of the matter now is that there was an order to which the judge placed his signature and they said that the court would actually serve that on CIBC. But we were told to temper our expectations because of certain challenges that were experienced in December when management tried to access the money,” the worker said.
The staff member said they were informed at the meeting that even when the bank is served with the court order, the company would still have to wait to hear from the financial institution and its attorneys.
“In terms of the account being unfrozen as of this afternoon, that has not happened as yet. That is where we are right now,” the employee reported.
The meeting was also told there was no indication when the paper would be printed again. The last edition was circulated on December 31.
“They basically said that…they didn’t use the terms…The staff who were talking were saying that technically we are on a suspension. We have ground to a halt. Long and short of the matter is that they have to consider if there would be layoffs because they said they are not sure if the non-printing of the paper would be temporary or permanent,” the employee recalled.
The staff member confirmed that they had also sought the advice of the Labour Department about whether the workers could be laid off at this time.
“The labour office said you have to not have work. But the situation was that before there was work, but no funds, but now there is no work because nothing is happening. There is supposed to be some six-week notice that must be given before you can lay off, but they are going to check and see.
“Some staff members had actually asked questions about that…because if nothing is being printed we are not getting any money, so what is going to happen? Management said they would have to check into that to see if they can go that route,” according to the worker.
Meanwhile, some Advocate staff members are concerned that the ongoing split between two factions of the board of directors could hamper a speedy salary payment process.
The board comprises Sandra Clarke, who the worker revealed has left the company but still continues as chair, Padmore, Eteen, Natalie Browne, head of Human Resources, Dorian Bryan, News Editor, Corey Greaves, Sports Editor, Samantha Griffith and Janelle Brathwaite, accountant. (EJ)
