The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

IF the Bahamas Telecommunications Company does not immediately reinstate Elizabeth Thompson, the union will “do what we need to do” in order to get justice, the National Congress of Trade Unions’ president warned yesterday.

Speaking at a press conference, NCTU president Jennifer Isaacs Dotson said BTC’s action of dismissing Mrs Thompson from her post violates not only the Industrial Relations Act and the Employment Act, but is also a violation of the Constitution of the Bahamas.

Also attending the press conference were executives from the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU), the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union (BEWU), the Union of Tertiary Educators (UTEB), the Union of Central Bank (UCB), the National Insurance Board Union and the Bahamas Communications and Public Managers Union (BCPMU) – who threw their full support behind the reinstatement of Mrs Thompson.

Mrs Thompson, who was a senior manager in the legal department at BTC for almost five years, was terminated last Monday.

She also serves as the vice president of the Bahamas Communications and Public Managers Union.

In the letter, she said, BTC told her: “After due and careful consideration, the company has decided that the continuance of your employment is not in the best interest of the company or consistent with the requirements of the company’s business.

“We therefore regret to inform you that the company has decided to sever your employment without cause with pay in lieu of notice...”

Mrs Isaacs Dotson said the issue goes far beyond the firing of Mrs Thompson.

“We all know the reputation Cable and Wireless has. They have done this before and they figure that Bahamians would be easy. It will not happen that way. Wherever this matter has to go, it will go,” she said.

“This has implications for every trade union in the country. What gives an employer the right to tell me that I cannot be a member of a union or if I am a member of the union I should not be able to run for office? The termination of Elizabeth Thompson by BTC due to the fact that she was elected as an Executive of the BCPMU violates the spirit and intent of the ILO Convention and could have serious implications if the issue is not adequately addressed and reversed.”

Mrs Isaacs Dotson said because the letter of dismissal does not give a reason and BTC terminated Mrs Thompson without cause a court could convict Mr Geoff Houston for violation of section 45 (1) and be fined up to $5,000 or be fined and imprisoned.

She said the burden of proof is now on BTC to prove that the dismissal was not unfair.

BCPMU President Talbot Collie, said that as the decision was made to fire Mrs Thompson the union has appealed to BTC to reverse its decision.

“It is evident,” he said, “they made a terrible mistake and hopefully when we meet with them they will bring us good news. The news that they have reconsidered their decision and are reinstating her. We are still hoping that an appeal is still in process.”

BCPOU President Bernard Evans said they are not “begging” BTC, but are simply urging them to do the right thing. He said if the meeting does not go the way the union likes, the unions next meeting will be at BTC headquarters.

Mrs Isaacs Dotson also “cried shame” on the government for not intervening and called on Minister of Labour Shane Gibson to overturn BTC’s decision.

BTC is expected to meet with the BCPMU sometime today.