The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Utilities Service and Allied Workers Union President Dwayne Woods yesterday said he was sure the Water and Sewerage Corporation would “do the honourable thing” when a meeting is held to resolve “four outstanding disputes” between the union and the corporation today.

The meeting, Mr Woods said, will take place at 11am at the corporation’s headquarters on Thompson Boulevard.

According to Mr Woods, it was originally set for next week Wednesday.

A meeting between the board of directors and officials from the Ministry of Works was subsequently held at the corporation yesterday to discuss the outstanding matters, according to Mr Woods.

He could not say what was discussed in the meeting, but told The Tribune that the board of directors invited him to attend a meeting today at the corporation to try and resolve the matters.

Labour Minister Shane Gibson also told The Tribune yesterday he would contact Mr Woods regarding the issues.

The meeting comes after BUSAWU staged a lunchtime protest at the corporation’s headquarters on Wednesday, demanding “immediate resolution” of the disputes before “enthusiasm is withdrawn.”

While he did not say if the union would engage in industrial action, Mr Woods said on Wednesday that if the union withdraws its enthusiasm “then anything could happen.”

According to Mr Woods, Wednesday’s protest stemmed from six months of being at odds with the corporation over several issues, most notably the corporation’s General Manager Glen Laville’s alleged refusal to reinstate a union member despite written directives from WSC Chairman Lester Cox.

Mr Woods said the affected individual has been off the job since August 5. He said BUSAWU officials subsequently approached management on the matter, and had spoken to management consistently regarding the employee’s reinstatement.

Mr Woods said a directive to reinstate the employee was issued on November 6 by Mr Cox, but he said Mr Laville insisted that “he and the board chairman still have discussions on these matters.”

He said the union further met with WSC management on December 10, but there had been no movement on the outstanding issues.

Mr Woods also said management was responsible for the “outstanding” payments of “shift premium and holiday pay” to one union member, the “inconsistent practice of probationary period” for two employees at the corporation, and the discontinuation of the NIB sick pay and maternity benefit.

Mr Woods on Wednesday said the union was at “its wits end” in dealing with the corporation as a result, and said the union was willing to “bite, kick and punch” their way to resolving the matters.

Attempts to reach Mr Laville were unsuccessful up to press time yesterday, but when asked on Tuesday about the union’s claims, he said he did not wish to fight the union in the media. Attempts to reach Mr Cox were also unsuccessful up to press time.

While he did not rule out industrial action as an option, Mr Woods asked the public to bear with the union until the matters are resolved.