Union 'vehemently opposed' to Digicel

As of Wednesday, April 9, 2014

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A union leader yesterday reiterated his “vehement opposition” to cellular giant Digicel winning a licence to operate in the Bahamas, arguing that Bahamians had enough expertise to enter the industry themselves.

Bernard Evans, president of the union that represents the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) line staff, again expressed concern that Digicel would continue its practice of failing to recognise trade unions if it was permitted to enter the Bahamian cellular market.

“Here is a company that does not recognise the fact the workers have a right to organise,” Mr Evans told Tribune Business. “They all have a right to organise.

“For Digicel to go into these countries and not recognise, and stifle, the establishment of unions, we certainly cannot have them do that here; not respect the rights of Bahamians to share in this country.”

Digicel, which is owned by Irish entrepreneur Denis O’Brien and other private investors, has used the strength accumulated in its Caribbean ‘backyard’ as the springboard to start exploring expansion into other areas of the world.

The only Caribbean market it has not entered is the Bahamas, which it has literally been ‘chomping at the bit’ to open up, having participated in the two previous Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) privatisation processes.

It already has a licence to offer certain services in the Bahamas, which it has chosen not to execute on yet, but the greatest prize - cellular - has now opened up with the April 6 end to BTC’s long-standing monopoly.

Yet Digicel has not recognised trade unions in any country it operates in, remaining staunchly non-unionised.

Mr Evans yesterday said that if Digicel was to enter the Bahamas and accept a union such as his Bahamas Communications and Public Officers (BCPOU) union, then it should do likewise in the rest of the Caribbean.

“We vehemently again oppose Digicel obtaining a licence,” he told Tribune Business. “We support competition, but believe competition can be brought about by our own people.

“We have enough personnel, know how to handle this. We have enough expertise not to need these foreign entities coming in and doing it for us.”

The timing and method of cellular liberalisation will be determined by the Government, with assistance from the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA). Among the likely bidders for a second licence are Digicel, Cable Bahamas, Virgin Mobile and Vodafone, which was part of a group that bid on BTC during the privatisation process.

ohdrap4 10 years, 8 months ago

tho a loss for workers, unions are fast becoming an anacronism.

Milton Friedman is laughing in his grave

But truth be told, Batelco workers had it good for a biblical generation of 40 years.

The customer service people would not even answer the phone. got a problem with your phone and you had to drive to the headquarters.

I complained once that they did not answer the phone, a mid-manager told me they were "too busy' to answer the phone.

Sadly, otoh, i have worked many years without the benefit of a union. Employers are generally exploitative in the bahamas.

vinceP 10 years, 8 months ago

Ummmmm, what i'm curious about is why the Government is even entertaining any foreign company, if CableBahamas is also interested in getting into the Cellular market? What happen to this Government's previous opposition to the FNM Government bringing in a foreign company? I.e. Lime......

B_I_D___ 10 years, 8 months ago

Oooooo...yes yes yes...Digicell does not like or recognize unions...BRING IT ON!! Unions are the direct cause for why our screwed up utilities and industry are the way they are today...I don't know how non-government business that are burdened by the unions manage to make ends meet, they will drag you down and bankrupt you, while the workers run around with scores of days off, perks, benefits, etc, etc. Thankfully, as a private employer, we have dodged the union bullet, but treat our employees with the respect they deserve and pay them what they are owed according to the labour laws of this country. We could not operate and would have to close our doors if unions came a knocking, it's really that simple.

carlh57 10 years, 8 months ago

your right on target! Of course the union is going to be against this...means their people will have to actually work and have competition...God forbid there is competition with telephone company!!! Or any other business where service is demanded!!!!

GrassRoot 10 years, 8 months ago

I like the union's approach at least they say what they want, unlike our Government, and they seem to be very entrepreneurial all of a sudden. They want to do that themselves? Howdie, bring it on. CEO Bernard Evans putting in unpaid overtime. We need more reasons to laugh here in Bahamaland.

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