More than 120 workers at the Morton Salt Company in Inagua are preparing to walk off the job in protest of what they call “unfair treatment and continuous victimisation,” according to Trade Union Congress President Obie Ferguson. But no company official would confirm that industrial action is in fact brewing at the company which is the primary economic engine for that southern island.
Although the workers have not specified exactly when the strike will take place, they are staging industrial action for a number of infractions, Mr. Ferguson told the Bahama Journal.
Mr. Ferguson, who is also the attorney representing the workers, said Wednesday that it was unfortunate that in the Bahamas in the year 2003, “there’s still not a mechanism in place for dispute resolutions”
“I find it very unbelievable that in this day and age that an industrial agreement that was going to be executed had to be pulled in escrow. Consequently, the workers are treated in a manner that makes them very very uncomfortable, so I can confirm that I’ve been instructed that industrial action will be taken,” he said.
Mr Ferguson, who was scheduled go to Inagua Wednesday to meet with the union, said there are a number of problems affecting the workers that need to be addressed urgently.
“Failure to do that, I think you’ll see an escalation of industrial actions, which really and truly I thought that by now we had moved beyond,” he said.
“But you know in the Bahamas, in order for people to do things, you’ve got to break things down. That’s the way it appears. We’ve been asking consistently to meet to have these matters resolved. But parties believe because you’re quiet you’re not prepared to do certain things, that you’re not serious.”
Mr Ferguson said this is just the beginning of a series of labour disputes. He said workers in the country will begin registering their displeasure by withdrawing labour.
Mr. Ferguson said very rarely do trade unions tell you the exact moment they will take industrial action, but said some notice was given. He said a decision had been made to cause some of the infractions to be addressed quickly.
“I have a whole series of allegations made with respect to the workers, for example, they agreed that time off be granted for workers to go on a family leave, in case you have a family member die. They agreed for five days, but the company has continued just to give them three days,” he said.
“But if you’re leaving from Inagua to come Nassau, the five days would have been more appropriate, but instead they’re insisting that it be three. Things like moving them from one shift to the next shift without any sort of consideration, that is a major problem, the upgrading and the downgrading of the workers, it’s a whole barrage of infractions.”
Mr Ferguson said he spoke with Morton Bahamas’ attorney yesterday and outlined some of the union’s concerns. He said some of the unions’ officers had their salaries cut by the company.
“The law says that if you are an officer of the union and you are doing work for the union, then you’re not cut. But obviously the company has seen fit to cut the salaries of these officers and these types of things, yuck up people’s vexation,” he said.
“Frankly I’ve done what I thought I should do, by acting responsibly and informing the various government agencies and the various parties, that workers cannot be treated in this fashion and that there is a process by which one has to go about trying to resolve problems,” he said.
“But we seem not to be able to do that, and the only time we act in the Bahamas is when there is some industrial action. That’s unfortunate, and if that’s what is necessary, then the workers are prepared to do it.”
In a press statement to the Bahama Journal, the President of Bahamas Industrial Manufacturers & Allied Workers Union, Wilfred Seymour, said Morton Bahamas Ltd still has not accepted the union, nor do the company’s managers appear to have any intention of treating employees with respect.
Mr Seymour said Morton’s managerial staff continues to intimidate employees and said “political games are being played on the job.”
A few weeks ago, an FNM supervisor reprimanded a PLP employee because he was summoned to appear in court and needed to make the necessary arrangements for the trip to Nassau, he said.
“The same supervisor then threatened another employee, telling him that he will do the same thing to him as he did to the other employee.”
Mr Seymour said Morton has been “victimising and taking advantage” of workers in Inagua for years, and said now – with the existence of the union – is trying to spite employees.
On January 14, 2002, Geron Turnquest, Vice-President of Operations, manager in Inagua and the manager of Administrative Services, Vivian Moultrie, met with Hubert Brown Jr, a union member, and told him hat if he did not operate a piece of equipment as ordered, for less pay than he used to be paid for operating, he would be sent home, he said.
Mr Seymour said during a meeting held at the Labour Department last November, the Director of Labour Harcourt Brown told the company that it was against the law to reduce an employee’s pay to do the same job they were performing before.
“However, Morton once again disregards the Labour Department’s advice. How many times does the union have to file dispute after dispute before Morton treats its employees fairly. They have shown time and time again that they have no regard for Bahamian law,” he said.
“How much longer will Geron Turnquest and his managerial staff continue to intimidate and threaten employees? They are operating the company with a ‘do as I say or go home’ attitude. If Turnquest continues with this attitude towards employees, and allow his managerial staff to do likewise, the union will have no other alternative but to demand his resignation.”
Calls to managers of Morton Salt were not returned.
Late last year, Vice President of Morton Bahamas Glen Bannister said the company has been adversely affected by the worldwide economic recession.
“The company anticipates notification and payment for all those employees who will be separated through the special and enhanced separation package by month-den,” Mr. Bannister said.
The company was offering special and enhanced separation packages to the 45 workers who were set to lose their jobs in Morton’s downsizing efforts.
Labour Minister Vincent Peet was reportedly working with both sides on trying to resolve the latest Morton Salt dispute.
By Rogan Smith, The Bahama Journal
