The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU) president Bernard Evans said yesterday that employees at the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) were on “pins and needles” over imminent redundancies, with a meeting expected with management early next week.

Mr Evans questioned the criteria by which BTC would select employees to be made redundant, given that some 50 per cent of those who applied for the voluntary separation package were declined.

“As far as we know nothing is happening right now, not until maybe next week,” Mr Evans told Tribune Business. “We are scheduled to meet with them next week Tuesday. We said all along that the company wanted to downsize.

“Maybe they should have identified persons because obviously people applied for it but they were the wrong people who applied. Now they are trying to compile a list I guess.”

Mr Evans added: “We are still waiting to see what criteria they are going to use for their selection process. The whole thing is  confusing and sad. You have the workers on pins and needles, not knowing anything.

“I guess we have to wait this out another weekend and see what happens on Tuesday but it is very unprofessional. They would expect for union leaders to keep the peace and not  take drastic measures but sometimes we don’t have a choice. They have got another couple of days before we have to take matters into our own hands.”

Prior to the Easter holidays BTC CEO Leon Williams sent a memo to staff advising that due to the small number of voluntary separation package applications the company would move ahead by reducing staff by way of redundancies.

“Just under 100 between 95 and 100 persons had applied. I think 49 persons were denied out of those who applied,” Mr Evans said.

In February it was announced that BTC - which has just over 700 employees - planned to cut jobs to reduce its operational costs in preparation for competition in the mobile sector. BTC is reportedly seeking to cut as many as 150 jobs.