The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas Electrical Workers Union (BEWU) is trying to get “ahead of the game” by concluding a new industrial agreement, its president yesterday arguing this would not be impacted by the BEC reform process.

Despite ending its work-to-rule last week, after the Corporation’s executive chairman, Leslie Miller, refused to ratify a new industrial agreement, Paul Maynard said the union still expects the agreement to be honoured and signed.

He added that the union was scheduled to meet with Labour Minister Shane Gibson yesterday afternoon.

“We expect the deal to be honoured and our contract to be signed,” said Mr Maynard.

It was initially proposed that the Government would select the preferred bidders in the BEC reform process by November 2013, undertake contract negotiations in November/December, and execute contracts by January this year.

The winning bidders would then have taken over BEC’s generation and transmission and distribution (T&D) businesses by May 2014.

The Government then adjusted its BEC restructuring plans. Rather than create two new companies from the get-go, a single entity, wholly-owned by BEC, will be established.

This entity will then hold BEC’s generation and T&D assets as separate divisions, although the former may be split out into a new company - and equity offered to the winning bidder - once new power plants/generation assets are invested in and constructed. It was announced that the BEC RFP process would be concluded by November.

“I understand that they were supposed to finalise that this week. The thing is we would have a contract in place and be ahead of the game,” said Mr Maynard, adding that the union’s agreement would “not at all” be affected by whoever takes over at BEC.

Mr Miller said recently he had concerns about the union’s new contract, particularly rrequests for lump sum payments and issues over rostering.

He said the agreement was “not in the best interest of the people”.