The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

OFFICERS of the Bahamas Marine Dock Construction, Maintenance, Refinery and Allied Workers Union urged the government to scrutinise work permits requested by Quality Services and other businesses in Grand Bahama in order to ensure there are no Bahamians qualified to perform those jobs before they are given to foreigners.

In a press statement issued yesterday, the officers said: “Despite claims made by our president, that progress is being made with Quality Services, that the issues our members who were unfairly dismissed at Quality Services in favour of foreign workers have been resolved, and that the negotiations with Quality Services is 95 per cent complete, we the executives of BDMC union do not share that view, and therefore wish to let the Bahamian public know that our president has been instructed by way of a resolution to cease all one-on-one negotiation with Quality Services representatives.

“To continue in this manner is in violation of Section 22 of our constitution which requires a team to negotiate on behalf of our members. Meeting privately with Quality Services representatives fuel lack of transparency and distrust to the process, and should be discontinued immediately.

“On the issuance of work permits for foreign workers, we are asking the government to scrutinise every single request for work permits by Quality Services and consult with the executives of the union to be absolutely certain no Bahamian workers are available before considerations are given to any request by Quality Services. Further, all recently terminated workers from Quality Services must be reinstated before any considerations are given to foreigners by way of work permits.

“We further request the government to be vigilant as it relates to all work permit requests made by companies in Freeport, Grand Bahama to ensure that Bahamians continue to be first in our own country.”