BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Prime Minister David Thompson has intervened in an industrial relations dispute between the Barbados Workers Union (BWU) and the telecommunications giant, formerly known as Cable and Wireless (C&W).

The company, which now trades in the Caribbean under the acronym LIME, has plans to lay off 250 workers here this month as part of its ongoing restructuring programme.

Concerned for workers

But the move is not sitting well with the BWU, which is concerned for the welfare of its members.

The BWU has accused the company of violating the process set out by the social partnership, a charge which LIME has denied.

The union also argues that the workers are being sent home at the same time that the company has announced a profit of over US$90 million.

Earlier this week the dispute was referred to the prime minister, who is also the country's Minister of Labour. But after several hours of talks at the Ministry of Labour yesterday, the two sides remained deadlocked on the issue.

No settlement

Following the lengthy session, the junior minister of labour, Senator Arnie Walters, confirmed to reporters that no settlement had been reached.

However, he said the parties had thrashed out a number of matters, adding that the company was expected to respond to the prime minister on several outstanding issues by today.

"After that, we will make some determinations on where we will go from there," he said.

LIME offers landline, Internet, mobile and entertainment services and provides employment for hundreds of workers on the island.