The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

VICE president of the Bahamas Customs and Immigration Allied Union, Sloane Smith, yesterday said the new government has until the end of the month to initiate an “industrial agreement conversation” before union members “speak – and speak very loudly.”

Mr Smith said he union is simply asking the government to live up to the promises made by the PLP during the election campaign.

He said: “Quite frankly, we the leaders are doing everything in our power to keep the members calm and at least give the government an opportunity to make good on its promises – unsolicited though they were.

“They promised to address our issues during the campaign at the time. So we are simply saying to them, lets do the reasonable thing. Let’s get this matter resolved.”

Mr Smith said union officials attempted to meet with the new government on several occasions but the government was “never ready”.

“On August 7 we should have met with the government to commence negotiations on our collective agreement which should have been for a three year period. We discovered that the government was not ready to in fact negotiate and so it was put off until yesterday (Tuesday) when they should have come with their counter proposal, but the government was still not ready,” he said.

“Seeking to be understanding we agreed for them to conclude their counter proposal by the 31st of this month. Having done that we anticipate and have agreed that we will commence negations on the 17th.

“Now if they don’t, if the government doesn’t supply us with a counter proposal on the 31st, then I can assure you our members will speak and speak very loudly.

“We have sought, like we did with the former government, to deal calmly with the government. Persons feel as though we are being soft on this government but out first inclination is to simply sit and talk.

“We carry a big stick and we will walk softly with that big stick, the country is more important in the long run than us as just a small grouping, but our issues are important and our issues ought to be respected and given due process.”

Mr Smith said their main concerns are medical coverage for clerical workers, proper salaries for all in the bargaining unit and an increase in the level of insurance for members who have to carry firearms.

In April, Customs and Immigration workers staged a two week strike at eight locations throughout the Bahamas.

The strike ended after then Minister of Labour Dion Foulkes referred their trade dispute to the Industrial Tribunal and told the officers they had 24 hours to return to work.

Mr Smith said the union is still waiting for the new minister, Shane Gibson, to resolve that matter, but said the union will bring it up “at the appropriate time.”