The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net THE recent escalation in industrial unrest is in no way motivated by the upcoming general elections according to prominent labour attorney and leader, Obie Ferguson, who has several unions under the Trades Union Congress (TUC) seeking resolutions on matters. Mr Ferguson, president of the TUC, told Tribune Business that the upcoming general election was not an issue for the unions. "The election is not an issue to us," he said. "It just so happens that it's time to negotiate these agreements that we are now working on. It's not like we planned it. There is a time sit down for negotiations, and whether you complete it or not, the time expires. Whether the election was tomorrow, it is of no significance to us because we have an obligations to start negotiations at a particular date and time and try to get it completed." Mr Ferguson added: "Obviously we would prefer to have the matter dealt with by the Government. The Government of the day is the Government of the day, so we would prefer to have the matter dealt with. "We are not escalating it because of an election. If you look at that Sandals matter, that started back in 2001. When you look at Customs and Immigration, the Bahamas Customs, Immigration and Allied Workers Union, they just became a union in October of last year. "I wouldn't want to be a part of any pressure being brought to bear on a government because of elections. I am interested in trying to get the workers what is due to them. To someone not familiar with what is going on, it could give them the impression that these things are happening around election time but that is not the case." Last December, the Bahamas Customs, Immigration and Allied Workers Union (BCIAWU), the Bahamas Air Traffic Controllers Union (BATCU) and the Bahamas Hotel, Maintenance and Allied Workers Union (BHMAWU) signed an accord stating that negotiations of all respective industrial agreements with the Government and Sandals Royal Bahamian, respectively, would be pursued collaboratively. The Bahamian aviation industry was dealt a major blow over the Christmas weekend due to the work-to-rule initiated by the Bahamas Air Traffic Controllers Union. Labour Minister Dion Foulkes could not be reached for comment.