The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) is still polling Family Island teachers to determine if it should invite Department of Labour representatives to conduct a strike vote, BUT president Belinda Wilson said in a statement yesterday.

Her comments come a week after she told the press a strike could happen as early as this week after New Providence teachers “overwhelmingly” supported having the vote.

“No minister,” she said, “can prevent the union from conducting an internal poll of its members so that we will be prepared if and when we need to take a strike vote. In accordance with the Industrial Relations Act the Labour Department will have to conduct the poll. Strike is always an option. Although the union is still awaiting more results from its members, the preliminary results show that the majority of the members have voted yes to take a strike vote.”

Ms Wilson also criticised Labour Minister Shane Gibson for saying that the teacher’s union cannot take any industrial action while their issues are before the Industrial Tribunal.

“Belinda Wilson, President of the Bahamas Union of Teachers.” she said, “wants to state unequivocally that it was the BUT who wrote a letter to the Minister of Labour Shane Gibson since October 7, 2013 informing him that after weeks of conciliation in the Department of Labour the trade disputes filed by the union were not being resolved and requested that he exercises his powers as it relates to the Industrial Tribunal.”

“BUT wishes to confirm that seven weeks after writing Minister D Shane Gibson, a letter dated November 22, 2013 was received from the Industrial Tribunal informing that matters were referred to the Industrial Tribunal. As the matters were not specified another letter was received by the union from the Industrial Tribunal on Monday, December 2, listing the matters that have been referred to them. The union has 14 days to respond and this time has not yet expired.

“So, we will inform our members and the public that no matters are presently being heard before the Industrial Tribunal for the Bahamas Union of Teachers and the BUT is seeking legal advice.”