The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

BEC Executive Chairman Leslie Miller has warned union boss Stephano Greene to choose his words carefully or face suspension without pay.

As the two continue to wrangle over a number of issues concerning the government-run power company, Mr Miller said if Bahamas Electrical Workers Union (BEWU) members don’t like the way BEC is being operated, they can all look for new jobs.

“If he disrespects me one more time, he will be suspended for two weeks without pay,” Mr Miller said. “He referred to me as a dog once and now he is calling me Leslie – he has one more time.”

Mr Miller also said he is unconcerned by the threats of a lawsuit by the union after Mr Greene said the BEWU will be suing both BEC and Mr Miller for breach of contract.

Mr Greene claims BEC has failed to pay employees tens of thousands of dollars since the implementation of the new rostering system a few months ago.

However, Mr Miller says the “people of the Bahamas” should not have to pay BEC workers extra money to work the regular hours.

Yesterday, he said Mr Greene “can do whatever he wants to”.

“He was supposed to get back to us with a report showing how he can save the corporation $12 million if we pay them $300,000. He never got back to us. What they are asking for makes no sense. They want to be paid a extra $100 to work the same amount of hours, it doesn’t work like that,” he said.

“Let me explain, if they work flexitime and were supposed to come into work from 8-4 but we say come in from 11-7 instead they want to be paid $100 just to change their schedule. Does that make sense to anyone?

“It’s really stupid, we lose $23 million a year and they want us to pay them extra for nothing?

“We have told the union, you want the money? Fine, but some people are going to be fired. We just do not have the money.”

Last Friday, Mr Miller said before the end of the year, he expects the union to pay a portion of their medical and pension obligations.

The union said they will only pay if the corporation offers them something to offset their loss.

In response, Mr Miller said if they don’t want to pay, they can find other jobs.

He said: “They will still have work, that will be their benefit. The union pays nothing, we pay $12.5 million in pensions and another $6 million in insurance.

“What’s makes them special? They are no different from you or me. I won’t sit with them again, it’s useless, they are unreasonable and live in a dream world.

“He has an option, why doesn’t he tell them to find another job? He can find another job too. I dare him to find another job that would let him get away with this foolishness.”