The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

MORE than 50 Bahamas Electricity Corporation workers staged a demonstration Friday afternoon protesting against what they claimed was “intimidating treatment” by company Chairman Leslie Miller.

Stephano Greene, president of the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union (BEWU), said it wants the government to stop what it claims is a “negative atmosphere and environment” within and outside BEC and threatened to call for disciplinary action to be taken against Mr Miller.

The BEWU was demonstrating with the National Congress of Trade Unions of the Bahamas outside BEC’s headquarters on Tucker Road off Thompson Boulevard.

Mr Greene invited the media to attend and said: “Over the past few months, there have been many statements made by the executive chairman of BEC about the workers at BEC. These statements are an attempt to turn the Bahamas public against the hard working and dedicated workers with a view of painting a negative picture.”

BEC’s atmosphere has changed drastically in a negative way because of the approach and attitude of Mr Miller towards management and staff, he claimed.

“His attitude is one of intimidating,” Mr Greene said.

Giving examples of comments Mr Miller allegedly made to staff, Mr Greene said: “These type of statements by Mr Miller do not uplift or create an atmosphere of respect for the workers at BEC and ultimately the Bahamian people.”

Mr Greene claimed Mr Miller told staff benefits such as pension, medical, vacation and sick entitlements “might be cut.”

“We call on the government of the Bahamas, who says they believe in Bahamians, to immediately investigate what is going on at BEC and to deal with and address the problems so we can continue to work in good faith with the corporation and the chairman whom they appointed,” he said.

“We are asking for the conditions around BEC and the

environment of BEC to change and if it can’t change then we will be asking for the removal of Mr Miller.”

Mr Greene said the BEWU had met with Mr Miller two weeks ago with their concerns.

Mr Miller could not be contacted for comment.