The Tribune

THERE has been no word on the progress of talks between union leaders and ZNS executives following the recent staff shuffle at the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas and an alleged sick-out.

Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU) president Bernard Evans said Wednesday the union met with ZNS to discuss the recent position changes under the company’s restructuring exercise and “they were getting somewhere”.

The Tribune sought to ask Mr Evans about the progress of the discussions yesterday, but when contacted he said he was in a meeting and would return the call later.

He never called back and could not be reached up to press time. ZNS executives also failed to return calls.

Meanwhile, several union executives are said to be agitating for action to be taken over the recent restructuring.

Inside sources said several senior officials under Mr Evans demanded that action be taken according to union rules.

It is claimed the staff changes, which are a part of the company’s restructuring exercise, were politically motivated and amounted to “victimisation”.

Also on Wednesday, sources within ZNS claimed the entire department reportedly called in sick but is not known if the action is connected to the claims of victimisation.

While not addressing claims of victimisation earlier this month, executive chairman Rev Dr William Thompson said that ZNS’s restructuring was designed to make its television programming more appealing to the public and regain the viewing audience it had lost over recent years.

He added that ZNS will not terminate any of its staff, nor will staff suffer salary reductions or benefit changes as the government-run radio and television entity undergoes restructuring.