The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE union representing Water & Sewerage Corporation (WSC) line workers said yesterday it was prepared to go “as far as need be” to have its issues addressed, as it prepartes set to stage a demonstration at the head office today.
 Dwayne Woods, the Bahamas Utility Service & Allied Workers Union (BUSAWU) president, told Tribune Business: “The Government seems to have a request for Water & Sewerage to stop paying members when they get sick. They don’t want the members to be able to claim from National Insurance and still collect their pay.

“That’s a benefit we have had for the last 35 years. Our position is that you can’t unilaterally vary our contract unless the benefit is negotiated away. We have something in our contract which stipulates that it can’t be taken away unless we agree.”

The issue of ‘double dipping’ at government corporations has been highlighted before, with Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) executive chairman, Leslie Miller, last year accusing BEC employees of the same - claiming 100 per cent of their salaries from BEC for sick leave and one-third of their salary from NIB.
 Mr Woods maintained that if the Government wanted to rescind the benefit it had to do so across all government agencies.

“We know that these are rough times and the Government may be trying to save some money, but we are saying that if you are going to take that benefit away it has to be across all government agencies and not just us. Against that backdrop it would seem we are being targeted,” said Mr Woods.

He added that the union was seeking the reinstatement of a male Corporation employee who was fired back in August.

“We are prepared to go as far as need be to have these matters resolved,” said Mr Woods. Tribune Business was unable to reach Corporation management for comment on the matter.