Kamisha Benjamin, BWU’s Deputy Director of Industrial Relations
Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Barbados and the Barbados Workers Union (BWU), long at odds over labor conditions, have successfully reached an agreement on new terms for KFC staff. The announcement, made this morning at the BWU’s headquarters, Solidarity House, was met with praise from workers, some of whom were present to witness the historic moment.
The new deal includes significant improvements for KFC employees, including a guaranteed 40-hour workweek and a 9% salary increase. Kamisha Benjamin, BWU’s Deputy Director of Industrial Relations, expressed her gratitude to the workers who had remained committed throughout the lengthy negotiations, which began in 2022. She outlined key elements of the agreement, noting the removal of the previous practice where workers were placed on a list for guaranteed hours. Now, all employees who pass their training and probationary period will be guaranteed full-time status.
“Under the new agreement, everybody will now get a guaranteed 40-hour workweek,” Benjamin explained. “This means there’s no more list, and everyone is full-time as long as they pass their training and probation. The training period has also been shortened from 1,820 hours, which could take over a year, to just 30 days.”
Benjamin also highlighted the major win for workers: a 9% wage increase, which had been a primary demand throughout the negotiation process.
A longtime KFC employee shared her excitement about the new deal with Starcom Network News, expressing her satisfaction with the improvements.
The agreement comes after three years of often tense negotiations, during which the BWU used social media to bring attention to the ongoing issues. However, with this new agreement in place, both the union and workers are celebrating a major victory in improving conditions for KFC staff in Barbados.