Executives of the National Congress of Trade Unions also said they would take some form of industrial action if BEC officials do not reverse a decision to terminate Mr. Moore.
Dennis Williams, president of the BEC worker’s union said today the firing of Mr. Moore was an attempt to “deliberately destroy the union.”
Mr. Moore also said at a press conference today that his firing “is a direct attempt to intimate BEC workers.”
Although union officials have confirmed that Mr. Moore was given a letter of termination Friday, BEC Chairman Al Jarrett said it would be “a bit premature” to say the termination was official.
The termination letter signed by Bradley Roberts, general manager of the corporation, accused Mr. Moore of being uncooperative and disruptive. It also said that he could not adapt to a new culture.
But some union leaders are accusing BEC executives of being anti-union, and warned that they will not accept any attempt at “union busting.”
Mr. Moore, meanwhile, is on full paid leave.
When asked what occurred over the weekend to cause management to rethink its original position, Mr. Jarrett declined to comment. In an interview with the Bahama Journal, he would only say that, “there are some issues being discussed by management regarding Mr. Moore.”
The National Congress of Trade Union, of which the Bahamas Electrical Managerial Union is an affiliate, has stepped into the fray.
On Friday, Mr. Moore advised NCTU President Pat Bain that a letter of termination was issued to him.
Incensed NCTU leaders reportedly called on Labour Minister Vincent Peet to intervene. Journal sources say Minister Peet was working with both sides Monday in an effort to resolve the matter.
Mr. Robert Farquharson, secretary general of the NCTU said, “We immediately contacted members of the management team and executive board of the company. We understand that this termination was unfair. It was a wrongful termination.”
The umbrella trade union is reportedly working along with Mr. Moore and Mr. Williams, president of the corporation’s general workers union, to get the matter resolved as quickly as possible.
“We feel confident that the termination was without merit and hopefully it will be rescinded,” Mr. Farquharson said.
The corporation’s general manager, Bradley Roberts told the Bahama Journal that management is presently “dealing” with the matter.
“If there is an issue with regards to what management has done there is a process to be followed,” he said Monday. “Any public statement would prejudice any appeal that would follow.
“The corporation does not want this matter aired in the press at this time. The union likes to draw us into these things so they can be sensationalized in the media. We do not want to get involved in that.”
On Monday, union officials met with members of the corporation’s board and executive management team.
According to President of the Bahamas Utilities Services and Allied Workers’ Union, Huedley Moss, problems like these will arise because some trade union leaders are finding it difficult to adapt to modern times.
“Many of us aren’t willing to change our approach,” Mr. Moss said. “We still want to use the confrontational and adversarial approach to addressing concerns and I’m saying that’s bad.
“It’s bad for the country. It’s a threat to the members who these leaders are advising and sooner or later they are going to buck their toe and they are going to have to face reality – the country and the world is going to move forward with, or without their support.”
By Tosheena Blair, The Bahama Journal
