The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT – MINISTER for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville was yesterday locked down in talks with management at Quality Services and the Bahamas Marine Dock Construction Refinery Union.

The parties are trying to resolve the ongoing issue regarding the unionisation of workers at the company.

Last week, union president Lionel Morley led some 60 workers in a two-day strike against the company, which refuses to recognise the union as the sole bargaining agent.

“We want to government to use all of its muscle not to only bring them to the table, but to ensure that Bahamian workers at Quality Services can enjoy the quality of life they deserve and that they are protected by measures under an industrial agreement,” he told The Tribune.

Up until 5.30pm, the parties were still in a meeting with Minister Darville. The Tribune attempted, but could not reach, Dr Darville for an update.

Quality Services employs a workforce of 150, which consist of a mixed of Bahamian and foreign workers.

Mr Morley claims that 50 plus one per cent of the workers are members of the union.

“We have about 62 to 70 workers with the union,” he said.

“The law states that as long as there is 50 plus one percent, it is the duty of the registrar of trade union once satisfied to grant a certificate of determination that states that you are legally a union.

“Management is then duty bound to sit with the union and negotiate, but they have been refusing to meet with us,” Morley said.

“We have applied to management and we have sent proposals and letters stating position and our concerns, but they continue to deny workers the opportunity to organise and be unionised as they are entitled to by law.”

Mr Morley claims Bahamians workers are not being treated fairly by management.

According to Morley, skilled Bahamians are being forced to train foreign workers and are paid minimum wage when their foreign counterparts are earning much higher wages.

He also claimed that Bahamian labourers work in very dangerous and hazardous environments and have no access to proper insurance as the foreign workers.

“Many former Bahamian workers have been maimed and injured, and are suffering from health related issues,” he said.

The union president also stated that five female office workers who returned to work on Monday were locked out and denied access to the premises.

Mr Morley said the women had to be manually admitted after discovering that the keypad code to the entrance gate had been changed, and that their cards to access the office door were no longer operational.

He also said that management had put in place new policies and procedures that take away certain benefits that workers had enjoyed over the years.

Mr Morley said BMDCRU had been representing workers at Quality Services since 2010.

He claims that over the years management have find ways and means to deny employees to be unionised by changing their company’s name and in another instance by challenging the registrar of trade union that the union did not have the 50 plus one percent.

He said that workers were being denied their constitutional rights to associate.

“An Appeal Court ruling states that what management is attempting to do is inhumane and criminal,” Morley said.

He said that they were advised to take the matter to the lower court and proceed with criminal charges against the company.

“We are seeking to meet with ownership at Quality Services so we can attempt to forge the way forward.

“Dr Darville is the mediator and he is trying to bring both parties together to see how we can reach a resolution,” Morley said.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell said the Department of Immigration is investigating abuse complaints by employees at Quality Services.

Minister Mitchell said on receiving a formal complaint about alleged inappropriate actions of the employer, he and the Minister for Grand Bahama met with representatives of the union last Friday.

“Subsequently, the matter is being investigated by the Department of Immigration in conjunction with the Department of Labour and the Minister for Grand Bahama. The findings of the department’s investigation will be made known to the parties involved.

“I however wish to remind employers that the Code of Industrial practice in the Industrial Relations Act remains the guide for best practices when dealing with their employees.

“Further, employees should not suffer abuse on the job because of their national origin.

“The government remains committed to the spirit and intent of this code of practice and to the protection of the rights of both employers and employees in the workplace,” he said.