A trade dispute has been filed with the Department of Labour and the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union (BEWU), and will go through the trade procedure up to the maximum level, which includes lawful industrial action, strike votes and a lawful strike.
At a press conference held at the BCPOU Hall building on Thursday, BEWU president Dennis Williams said his organisation and its consultants have been negotiating with the Corporation for almost four months for a new industrial agreement. But, he said after receiving the Corporation’s offer on October 15, it was evident that BEC is not negotiating in good faith.
“The Corporation has not offered anything tangible that would benefit any employee at BEC, but has sought to present terms and conditions that would be detrimental to all workers in the bargaining unit.
“The Union does not want to see a test of wills, because we know how detrimental a strike would be to our economy and our country. But on the other hand, we cannot sit back and allow any entity or group of persons to hold the Union hostage by saying, “take it or leave it,” he said.
When contacted, BEC General Manager Bradley Roberts said a meeting is scheduled with the union for next Tuesday.
“We are just as anxious as they are to have the talks completed. We expect that both sides will go to the tables in good faith. We will certainly be going to the table in good faith. We expect to conclude these negotiations as quickly as we possibly can,” Mr. Roberts said, but did not want to comment any further.
Mr. Williams, who was backed by other union executives, accused the Corporation’s Chief Negotiator of using hard-line negotiating tactics “in a futile effort to oppress the hardworking employees at BEC. He is attempting to offer the Union nothing.”
Mr. Williams then publicly advised the Corporation to reconsider its “blatant attempt” to withhold benefits during contractual negotiations.
He said one of the primary concern of the Union is the adjustments of the inadequate pension plan, which has been deemed “unable to sustain” its members after retirement. Mr. Williams said the union has also tried to negotiate moderate pay raises, but to no avail, despite the Corporation’s pulling in millions of dollars per year over the past six years.
“The Corporation continuously talk about globalisation and its effects on the economy, yet they refuse to negotiate based on the fact that BEC makes an average profit of $18.03 million per year over the past six years,” he said.
Too, Mr. Williams also expressed anger over the Corporation’s efforts to implement a High Performance and Merit Pay System before:
– A National Committee is formed to formulate policies and procedure for merit pay systems in The Bahamas
– A National Productivity and Corporate Efficiency Regulatory Body is instituted to benchmark worker productivity, executive productivity and general corporate efficiency is instituted before any merit is instituted in the Bahamian public sector.
“The reason these things must be done before implementation of the High Performance and Merit Pay System is because workers, managers and executives must be equally accountable and responsible for their actions in the public sector,” he said.
By Keva Lightbourne, The Nassau Guardian
