A meeting was finally held between Senior Executives at City Market and the newly elected Executive Team of the Bahamas Commercial Stores Supermarket & Warehouse Workers Union (BCSS&WWU).
The meeting was held to discuss comments recently aired in the media. President of Bahamas Supermarkets Limited Mark Finlayson’s concern was fueled by some members of staff demonstrating at the Company’s Harbour Bay Store on Monday of this week. “What prompted their action,” Finlayson said, “was a clear misunderstanding of their Union Agreement – something we met in place.” Finlayson confirmed that part-time staff are working on a week-by-week schedule, which he said is being done in other companies including several resorts across the country. “September and October is a slow period and instead of terminating staff we made it possible for them to continue on. These staff members are not restricted from employment elsewhere as long as it does not represent a conflict of interest,” he added. According to the BSL President, “Once the objective is achieved as far as our renovations are concerned we expect to absorb those transferred employees and return to a normal shift schedule.”
At the meeting Mr Finlayson informed the Union that ‘full and frank’ disclosure on the status of the Pension Fund prior to the takeover by Trans Island Traders and during the past nine months of ownership is forthcoming. John Bain is finalizing a forensic audit of the Pension Fund from November, 2010, to the present (the entire course of Mr. Finlayson’s tenure). Mr. Finlayson reiterated that “There will be full disclosure and the chips will fall where they may, my hands are clean.”
