Mr. Moore, a training officer, called his termination a “deliberate and direct attempt by the chairman of the board (Al Jarret) and the executive management team to intimidate all BEC workers. If they can cut down the head and get away with it, for no reason at all, then chaos and anarchy will result.”
The Bahamas Electricity Workers Union (BEWU) and Bahamas Electrical Managerial Union, on Tuesday at a press briefing at the BEWU headquarters, said they are joining forces against the Corporation’s continuous attempt to “victimise” and silence employees.
Mr. Moore was fired through a letter signed by BEC General Manager Bradley Roberts, who refused to say what sparked the dismissal and the details in the letter. The Guardian still obtained a copy of the statement, which described Mr. Moore as an “uncooperative and disruptive” employee.
The letter, dated July 18, read: “Over the years, we have witnessed your uncooperative and disruptive behaviour grow to an intolerable level, which has negatively impacted the training efforts of the Corporation and made it impossible for you to perform your duties as training officer.
“You have also demonstrated an unwillingness to align yourself with the goals and objectives of the Corporation, which has frustrated the growth and development of employees and the organisation.”
“This,” the statement continued, “has manifested itself in your being confrontational, disrespectful and obstructive to the management of the Corporation,” leaving the company with no other alternative but to fire him.
To the contrary, Mr. Moore assured that during his 24-year employment his performance and work ethics was never questioned, but rather appraised each year as “very good” by each of the five executive managers.
He said: “I have always been awarded with annual increments and performance incentive bonuses in lieu of my very good performance each year. I have never been uncooperative and disruptive…. if that was the case, surely I would have been warned or disciplined in keeping with the disciplinary procedures outlined in the Industrial Agreement.”
The unionists believe it was Mr. Moore’s re-election to the union president post that “annoyed” the BEC executives, who was to begin negotiations with that union within two months.
“I consider it to be a deliberate and discriminatory act of victimisation against me, because I was returned as president. It’s in direct breach of the Industrial Relations Act, Article 45 and it’s a deliberate attempt to curtail my freedom of expression…. and hold opinion,” said Mr. Moore.
While confirming that a letter, outlining the reasons for Mr. Moore’s termination was given to him, Mr. Roberts said the “matter is presently being reviewed,” thus giving unionists no reason to stage a strike.
Asked of the status of the revision, Mr. Roberts refused to say anything other than the executive board met with Mr. Moore on Monday and gave him another letter, signed by Mr. Jarret, informing him that his termination would be reviewed.
In the meantime, Mr. Moore would receive full pay, but not appear to work.
“We don’t conduct our business in the press. We try our best to maintain matters with fairness and reasonableness. We are trying to deal with this in a proper manner. The review is in progress,” Mr. Roberts said.
The move to review Mr. Moore’s termination was BEC’s reaction to the two unions coupling to fight the matter, claimed BEWU secretary Patricia Johnson.
She said: “I think they were under the assumption that Mr. Moore was alone in this matter and he would not have gotten any assistance from the BEWU. And, when they realised that we are indeed one, they suspended him with pay. I think if he were alone in the matter, it would not be reviewed.
Mr. Moore called for the Ministry of Labour to step in and resolve the string of victimisation acts against BEC employees.
“The powers that be need to step in and cause them to abide by the law and allow union officers to function in their capacity as union officers and not be adversely effected either by an individual or the employment, according to Article 45 in the Industrial Relations Act,” he said.
The unfair action made against Mr. Moore is only the most recent made by the Corporation, according to BEWU president Dennis Williams.
“Anytime you speak out for your rights or try to resolve a matter, you are suddenly victimised and that causes an erosion in the moral, and that is what exists in BEC today,” he said.
The BEC executives must realise that this is not a communist country, but a democratic one that operates in accordance with the law. And, Mr. Williams warned that if BEC does not comply with those guidelines, “all hell will break loose.”
By Khashan Poitier, The Nassau Guardian
