Less than 24 hours before workers in the capital celebrated Labour Day, the management of Morton Bahamas Limited and the Bahamas Industrial Manufacturers and Allied Workers Union, on Thursday signed a supplemental agreement on behalf of its 161 non-managerial employees.
After three years of intense negotiations, the supplemental agreement accompanies the Union’s principal agreement that was signed and completed in November 2002. The new agreement provides a mechanism for private and final binding arbitration for limited disputes.
Minister of Labour, Vincent Peet, commended both sides for the efforts displayed during the “intense” negotiating process. He mentioned that Thursday’s signing augurs well for industrial relations in The Bahamas and will send the right signal to the residents of Inagua, who will now be able to put behind them the “uncertainly, tension and stress” that previously prevailed in the workplace.
“In this agreement, the conditions of how to deal with disputes are now laid out and agreed and all the parties would now have some degree of certainty as to what procedures are to followed, if the event that there is a dispute,” he said.
President of The Bahamas Industrial Manufacturers and Allied Workers Union, Mr. Wilfred Seymour, said that Thursday was a special day for the workers of Morton Salt and the members of BIMAWU. He said that now that the agreement has been completed, he expected that all the terms in the agreement would become operative effective immediately.
“I would also take the opportunity to say to our members that we shall now expect all work arrangements to become normal and that their full support and cooperation in assisting the company in reaching its objectives must now be the order of the day. I also want to remind the company that the way forward must be based on mutual respect, cooperation and transparency, said Mr. Seymour, who added that the retroactive pay will take effect from June 1, 2002 and all outstanding disputes will now be resolved.
Managing Director of Morton Salt, Mr. Glenn Bannister, pointed out that he was happy to see both sides reach an amicable agreement, realising that the company cannot work without employees and vice versa. He said that both entities have to work as a team and it is “teamwork” that he constantly preaches to the employees of Morton Salt.
“We need the Union to help us meet our company’s objectives. The union members are still our employees and we are still all members of the same company and we must work together to pursue our objectives,” said Mr. Bannister, who added that Morton Salt now has “serious competition” with the outside world, competing with Mexico and Chile.
“I would also like to say to the Union that this is an historic day for the people of Inagua and all the employees of Morton Salt management and staff. I would like to say from today on, that we want to look forward and blaze a new trail, so that we can stay ahead of the competitive trail,” said Mr. Bannister, who added that the company would ensure that the terms and conditions of the contract are enforced to the best of their ability.
By Tamara McKenzie, The Nassau Guardian
