By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
UNION boss Stephano Greene’s assertion that BEC workers will turn to robbery if they do not get their Christmas bonuses was labelled “unfortunate and callous” by BEC chairman Leslie Miller.
Mr Miller said the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union leader needs to think before he speaks, as now his words will follow him forever.
“Mr Greene made the statement that is an affront to every Bahamian. He said if BEC workers do not receive ether bonus that they are going to rob Bahamians. How does that make sense? I think he needs to cool out,” Mr Miller said.
“I should go to the Commissioner of Police and report his actions so they could ask, who are these people that work for BEC, that are members of the union, that are going to go out and rob Bahamians?
“That is a callous statement to make, it is unfortunate he made it but now he has to live with it.”
Mr Miller said BEC simply cannot pay out $1.4 million in bonuses when the corporation has lost $22.6 million in the past 12 months. He says the problem with BEC unions is that the members feel like they own BEC and are entitled to everything the corporation has.
“BEC workers must appreciate the fact that they are no different from anyone else. I can show you some figures with our overtime for last year, we were able to cut overtime by $4.3 million and even despite that decrease you had persons that work at BEC right now, in the last 12 months, have taken home in excess of $60,000 in overtime,” he said.
“The overtime is still $7 million and many persons in BEC, 44 of them, have gotten overtime in excess of 100 per cent of their salary. We have some inherent problems we have to deal with and people who are complaining about the bonuses, remember the average BEC worker makes in excess of over $20,000 per annum – and that’s average, so they are still in good shape.
“The attitude of these union people needs to change, they need to come into the real world. The money doesn’t belong to the union. They have a sense of entitlement and that needs to change. They work at BEC, they do not own BEC.”
On Monday in a letter dated December 9, 2013, addressed to general manager, Kevin Basden, Mr Miller said after careful consideration, the corporation has decided not to pay Christmas bonuses this year, but will do so when the company “finds itself in a better position”.
“Please be advised that after careful consideration of the financial situation which this Corporation presently finds itself in, it has been decided in full concurrence with the Hon Phillip Brave Davis, the minister responsible for the corporation, that the proposed 2013 Christmas bonuses for executive management, middle management and junior staff be deferred until such time as the corporation finds itself in a better financial position,” the letter said.
“This deferral will enable us to live up to our financial obligations for the procurement of fuel, supplies as well as other financial obligations. I am sure we all agree that these tough economic times affect the lives of each and every Bahamian. It is therefore fitting that the personnel at BEC appreciate the current state of affairs and act accordingly. I, therefore, request that you immediately impart this information to all concerned.”
Union leaders have threatened to take legal and industrial action if the bonuses are not paid.
Comments
B_I_D___ 11 years ago
Why does Mr. Miller need to report him to the police...that comment was made and printed in a newspaper article, it is public record, the police should be able to act on it of their own accord despite what Mr. Miller says. Sure...report him anyways, but the police MUST take some initiative here without being FORCED to deal with something because someone finally made enough noise about it that they needed to get up off their posterior and do something.
ThisIsOurs 11 years ago
Agreed, I think the Commissioner should take this opportunity to make a statement about deliberate damage to government property and the consequences. But again they need to start taking initiatives without public outrage preceding them, they need to start standing on principal.
john33xyz 11 years ago
You are wrong. The police always say "nobody has filed a complaint" whenever anythings happens. Somebody has to physically go in and sign a complaint form for them to act on.
nationbuilder 11 years ago
why wasnt miller reported to the police for standing on his feet in parliament and saying he is a lawbreaker because he buys numbers from the numbers houses?
banker 11 years ago
because you have to pay the po-po under the table to get anything done
ThisIsOurs 11 years ago
He should not have made that statement or the statement accusing someone of the murder if his son. That said, they are exempt from prosecution for any statement made in the House.
The_Oracle 11 years ago
And this illustrates exactly why nothing can ever get rectified in this country: The Government agreed to these "bonuses" in the first place, just like they allowed Salary assignments in excess of 75% of salary, Just like they agreed to make 100% of NIB contributions for employees, One can go on and on with all that has been done wrong, with very little done right. Clawing back good governance on behalf of the Bahamian people is an imperative, throwing out new taxes and pillaging the people who work and produce is punishing the wrong people, and rewarding those who expect entitlements.
B_I_D___ 11 years ago
AMEN!!
concernedcitizen 11 years ago
You said a mouth full there Oracle !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TalRussell 11 years ago
Both the gold and red shirt governments are equally as guilty of damaging the consumer economy when it comes to allowing economic slavery to blossom via 'salary assignments" of government workers. No government should be acting as a form of guarantor of financial obligations entered into by government workers. Challenged in court, unlikely it would stand up in favor of the lenders.
John 11 years ago
The problem with thieves and dishonest people is that they are also selfish. They never sit and ponder the widespread or long term consequences of their actions. Some of the people involved with the various scams at BEC had become so caught up in the game, there was a competition going on to see who could earn the most money in overtime, disconnections and the like, side money. Some of the middle level people were living double lives, taking care the wife and the sweetheart(s). Seems like if Mr. Leslie Miller did not intervene when he did, these guys were going to take BEC into the ground and leave the Bahamas in the dark. GREED had them blinded to the future.
purchasegirl2 11 years ago
I agree. I heard that the guys would intentionally damage equipment to justify overtime. Leslie Miller is taking a stand. Someone needs to. PM is not doing his job.
Alex_Charles 11 years ago
When the next government is voted in, the cycle of BS and skullduggery will continue as always.
USAhelp 11 years ago
As long as number house is open then it is ok to buy numbers.
TheObjectiveVoice 11 years ago
I am going to apply for a job at BEC and join the union. They have it madeeee. I don't even want to go out in the field. I only want to answer the phone or somethin'. After the first year, I'm gonna be sick for a month and I want my salary and my NIB contributions because I want to take my whole family to Paris when I'm well again. This is the lifeeee....lolol
HolandObserver 11 years ago
no, come to Holland. lol
john33xyz 11 years ago
The Government should sell BEC and ship all the equipment including generators, transformers, switches, computers and the whole lot to another country (like Dominica or Honduras or somewhere) - I mean physically ship them out.
Then give ALL the money proceeds from the sale to be equally divided among ALL the BEC workers.
Then it will all be over with. They will have gotten everything that is gottable (new word) - and they along with the rest of us can start burning lamp - and then figure out some other way that we can be even more stupid in the future.
The airports and hotels can run on generator - if not, they can just close.
bytheway 11 years ago
Oh its all just too sad - and still the people suffer!
HolandObserver 11 years ago
and the battle of the egos continues
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