The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

SEVERAL unions have filed a trade dispute against the government over the implementation of a new health insurance scheme.

According to Sloan Smith, vice president of the Bahamas Customs Immigration and Allied Worked Union (BCIAWU) yesterday, the medical coverage of several groups have been reduced to far less than was previously offered.

Speaking on behalf of not only his union, but for police officers, the Defence Force, maritime officers, and prison guards, Smith said the unions had taken action after writing to Prime Minister Perry Christie, Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell and Labour Minister Shane Gibson more than a month ago, and not yet receiving a response.

Smith further suggested that the unions were considering several different courses of industrial action, including a strike if the government remained unresponsive to their concerns.

“We discovered that a lot of things have changed and not for the better (but) to the extent that the Employment Act of 2001 has been abused in this case. They (the government) know the law, they are the custodians of the law and they are breaking the law. We have a problem with that. And we will follow this through to its conclusion.

“The problem is when you look at co-payments, deductibles and out of pocket maximums those occur daily. We don’t lessen what may happen to an officer in the line of duty, but it’s only going to be a handful of those persons that it will happen to...but the every day occurrence of my family member, your family member who is sick and has to see a doctor? “

Another union official, Police Staff Association chairman Dwight Smith told reporters that police officers, have remained committed to the welfare of the general public and he urged the government to reconsider their medical insurance.

The Tribune contacted Mr Gibson but calls were unanswered. Mr Mitchell said he was aware of the issue but said he could not respond as it was a matter for the Department of Labour.