The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

JOHN Pinder, Bahamas Public Service Union president, said yesterday his union will not take part in the “massive strike” planned by the Trade Union Congress because he cannot support “a handful of greedy people” who think they should get more money than other civil servants.

Mr Pinder said his focus is not on attempting to “shut the country down” but to get the government to delay or stop Value Added Tax.

His comments came after TUC president Obie Ferguson said on Friday that he is “rallying the troops” for a massive strike in the country in response to the government’s alleged mistreatment of workers.

“I am not dissatisfied with the government at the moment. My focus is to change their mind on VAT and that is what Mr Ferguson should be focused on as well, not a strike,” Mr Pinder told The Tribune

“I do not see the need for a strike, I will not support something like that to satisfy a handful of greedy members. It has to be a national issue for a strike and I don’t think satisfying a handful of greedy people who think they should be making more money than others is a national issue. I will not support a handful of people wanting more from the government because Peter is no better than Paul.”

Mr Pinder also defended his decision to accept an annual increase of $800 for the minimum wage of government workers after Mr Ferguson said the “so-called increase is ungodly and unreasonable.”

He said: “My members were making $10,700, now they are making $11,500, in addition to a $400 increment that takes them up to nearly $12,000. Tell him (Mr Ferguson) that he may not like it but the people who are getting the money added to their base salaries are satisfied. I am doing my best to move the salaries up but you have to also keep in mind the economic situation we are in. It may not be a lot to him, but it is a step in the right direction.

“He represents the higher middle class, the nurses and customs and immigration and the air traffic controllers, they make the bulk of the money. It is unfortunate that he wants to be mischievous, but I am satisfied,” Mr Pinder added.

Last week Mr Ferguson said it seems as though union leaders are working in their own best interests instead of the members.

He said: “What could $800 do? You divide $800 by 52 weeks and you get $13, maybe $14, maybe $15. I get upset about things like that.”

The TUC represents 26 unions and has a collective membership of about 15,000 workers.

Mr Ferguson has been threatening to lead workers on a three-day strike for months.