The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net THE union representing Customs and Immigration officers yesterday called for a sincere attempt on the part of the Government to resolve their outstanding issues, with Labour Minister Dion Foulkes telling Tribune Business he had certified its strike vote. Sloane Smith, vice-president of the Bahamas Customs, Immigration and Allied Workers Union (BCIAWU), in an interview with Tribune Business, said there would be no need for industrial action once a sincere attempt was made towards resolving the union's outstanding issues. Mr Smith said: "Once persons come to the table to resolve those issues seriously and fairly, then there is no need for any further action on our behalf." He added, however: "I must caution that our members are not pleased. It's been two years since the shift system has been burdensome to them. A lot of staff are hurting, and it's not just uniformed officers. While we have been patient, we believe it is important to say with the greatest humility, our colleagues do not want to feel disrespected." Union members are upset with the shift system implemented by the Government in January 2010, alleged unsafe and unhealthy working conditions, as well as other concessions promised in the current industrial agreements which have yet to be delivered. The union had been agitating for a strike certificate after a successful strike vote on December 2. "We got the strike certificate," Mr Smith said. "We will sit and talk, but our conversation must be with persons who can resolve them. It makes no sense from our vantage point to send persons to the table who cannot resolve our issues. "It's not a situation where the Government can't resolve our issues. We know that they can, it's just a matter of their willingness to solve it fairly based on what was agreed in the agreement that was signed with the public service union we were under at the time." Labour Minister Dion Foulkes told Tribune Business; "With respect to the Customs and immigration matter I have certified their strike vote as of yesterday, and I have a meeting set with them for next Wednesday. I am hopeful that the leadership will allow the process to work and will not engage in any industrial action. We are hopeful we will get their matters resolved." Mr Foulkes said he had also certified a strike vote for the Bahamas Financial Services Union (BFSU), which represents employees at First Caribbean Bank. "There is a matter in the Supreme Court now before a judge, which was brought by the union, which is the subject of the same matter of the trade dispute upon which the strike vote was based. My understanding is that that judgment is forthcoming very soon, and so we will wait and see what the outcome is in the Supreme Court and then make a determination as to what we need to do to get their matters resolved after that," Mr Foulkes said. Talks between Sandals representatives and executives of the union representing the resort's line staff are also progressing, according to Bahamas Hotel Maintenance and Allied Workers Union (BHMAWU) president, Lynden Taylor. Mr Taylor told Tribune Business: "Talks are taking place, it's moving along, and so I am optimistic. It's been adjourned until February 8. We will sit down again and continue the conversation we had. It is progress, but we are taking everything one day at a time. Based on our next meeting we will see where we go from there."