The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

The Ministry of Labour yesterday rejected a union leader’s claim that the PLP took advantage of unions in the lead-up to the last general election.

The press statement released by the Labour Ministry followed reports that Sloane Smith, Vice President of the Bahamas Customs and Immigration and Allied Workers Union, said he never believed the Christie administration would follow through on promises it made prior to the May 2012 general election about bringing an end to labour disputes.

His comments came days before workers in his union vote to determine whether to go on strike to protest the government’s failure to address their concerns, including giving medical insurance to more than 300 clerical staff at the Customs and Immigration department.

The Labour Ministry’s press statement yesterday said: “The Ministry of Labour has worked diligently and speedily to address major concerns of trade unions in the country and is today producing a chart which discloses the successful closure of major contractual and industrial disputes the PLP Government has resolved since coming to office.

“The Ministry therefore rejects the claim made by the Vice President of the Bahamas Customs Immigration and Allied Workers Union, Mr Sloane Smith.

“The record of the Ministry of Labour will reflect that the promises made to the trade union movement by the PLP have been dutifully and zealously carried out by the Minister of Labour, Shane Gibson.

“Such irresponsible and contention baiting statements underscore the true value of the importance of meaningful and cordial dialogue between the government and the trade union movement.

“Since coming to office, the PLP has also enacted several decent and timely amendments and policies which were agitated for by the trade union movement.

“The Ministry of Labour will continue with its genuine mandate and commitment to the tri-partite system of industrial relations in this country and would hope that, in future, union leaders, notwithstanding their peculiar grievances, would remain on the high road in their criticisms and not pander to political mischief.”