By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
LABOUR Minister Shane Gibson says the Government is not in a financial position to give preferential treatment to one union over another.
Mr Gibson said that since coming to office last year, the Christie administration has tried to reach a compromise with trade unionists and ultimately settle and approve a number of agreements. These include the Bahamas Public Service Union (BPSU), the Bahamas Union of Teachers and employees at COB.
On the other hand, there have also been several instances of industrial action taken in the past few months.
Speaking outside of the Cabinet Office yesterday, Mr Gibson said it was unfortunate that some unions had decided to advocate “beyond what the government is able to do” but he was aiming to classify “essential services” to prohibit action being taken by certain types of workers.
He said: “We took a policy position that because of the financial position of the Government and the country at this time, we are unable to give anything more than what was given to the Bahamas Union of Teachers and the Bahamas Public Service Union.
“It is unfortunate that some unions still want to go beyond that point. I mean the country just simply cannot afford it.
“Being a former trade unionist myself, I know what the unions have at their disposal. I also know that there is something called essential services and one of the things I’ll be recommending to this government is to classify certain services as essential services. This means that those services will not be able to take certain types of industrial action that could possibly put lives at risk.”
Mr Gibson hopes that over the next few weeks, the Government will be able to settle outstanding industrial agreements.
Comments
realfreethinker 11 years, 7 months ago
So when you cant settle a dispute with the union you make them essential services to silence them. I am sure that is not how it should work in a democracy.
Tarzan 11 years, 7 months ago
Sew the wind. Reap the whirlwind.
hj 11 years, 7 months ago
When the PLP was in opposition they were calling for the unions to strike for their rights. Now deal with them.
JohnDoe 11 years, 7 months ago
If memory serves me correct this was the same former union leader that threw beer and peanuts at a sitting Prime Minister and he is now a cabinet minister. So using that as a model of behaviour for how to get ahead in the Bahamas, Minister Gibson should be proud of the attitude and behavior of the current union leaders who are merely following his precedent. Until we as a people begin to reject at the polls these loud mouth intellectually shallow politicians from both sides we will continue to be the dog that is being wagged by the tail.
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