The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business 
Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE union representing the Bahamas Electricity Corporation’s (BEC) line-staff has warned it is not prepared to accept any reduction in pension and insurance benefits without a reasonable trade-off, telling Tribune Business there have been no negotiations to-date on the issue.

BEC’s executive chairman, Leslie Miller said last week that BEC employees “will be asked and mandated” to make a contribution before the end of the year to their medical and pension plan.

But Stephano Greene, head of the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union (BEWU), told Tribune Business: “It has been mentioned to us, but the unions have never sat down and negotiated anything. As far as I know we haven’t received any communication from the Corporation to come and sit and discuss the issue, so that’s nothing that’s on the table right now for both unions, my union and the middle managers union.”

Mr Greene added: “No union would ever go into a situation where benefits are reduced. We will not sit down and allow benefits to be reduced just like that unless there is some other gain on the next side.

“Until we sit down and discuss and hear what is being offered for that, it is difficult for us to say, but if it’s just a right out ‘we have to take it or nothing’ then obviously the union won’t entertain that.

“Both unions will not be dictated to in an environment where we have two bargaining agents and industrial agreements that are binding by law. The industrial agreements speak on how both insurance and pensions are to be treated. The middle managers union will not agree to a reduction in benefits, and we will not agree to a reduction in benefits, unless there us a trade off we feel is reasonable for both parties.”

Regarding BEC’s efforts to reduce its $12 million average annual overtime payout, Mr Greene said: “There has been a conscious reduction in overtime. I can honestly say that some of it is to the detriment of the public, because decisions are made that when the power is off, to leave persons off until the next day.

“It’s sad but that’s the decision made from the top. Overtime isn’t mandatory; we have to be asked and agree to work overtime. It’s not something that we can give ourselves, so whatever decision the Corporation makes on that, it is fine with the union and the members.

“We are customers also, and we are disadvantaged when our lights are off and decisions are made to leave it off until the next working day.”

Mr Greene admitted that the union was concerned over the job security of its members as the Government moves to split the utility into two and seek private sector joint venture and management partners for its generation and transmission/distribution systems, respectively.

“As a union the bigger concern is for the Government to keep us involved as social partners. We have concerns about job security, that one being one of the major concerns and the process that would take place and having us a part of that process,” said Mr Greene.