The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

EXECUTIVES of the Bahamas Customs Immigration and Allied Workers Union will meet union members within the next week to determine their next move as they urge the government to respond to their concerns, union vice-president Sloane Smith said yesterday.

His statement came after members on Friday reportedly voted to go on strike against the Government as they continue to push for medical coverage for roughly 300 clerical workers and other benefits, including moving allowances for transferred officers.

Mr Smith said the government has not reached out to the union, adding that he learned of Labour Minister Sean Gibson’s position on their recent action through media reports. which suggested the government could not meet their demands at this time.

“I would’ve thought if they had any semblance of interest in the workers, they would’ve called our attorney by now,” he said.

“They don’t have to call us, but at least call our lawyer. We are going to have some meetings in short order to assess what the members want to do. We would suggest the Minister defer to the honourable Prime Minister who could overrule him since he has already expressed his position; we certainly hope it’s not the government’s position.”

Despite Friday’s strike vote results, Mr Smith could not verify if or when union members would go on strike.

“People are not anxious to strike,” he said. “The strike certificate will form a basis for getting what we want. We always said we are not threatening anybody. We don’t want people to feel hyped up about a strike. The government is keenly aware about what the strike certificate would mean. I don’t know what is in their mind and I don’t care. These issues are not issues that can’t be resolved.”

Mr Smith said he could not state the full results of Friday’s poll, nor could he say how many union members voted.

Amid media reports that less than 10 per cent of union members voted in the poll, he said he is unconcerned about the turnout because the numbers mainly reflect the fact that workers were discouraged from participating in the poll after officials were reportedly threatened by top department heads.

“People were threatened with salary cuts,” he said. “But by law they don’t have that authority to do that. If they cut their salary, we would go to the courts and they will order that the money be given back.”

He accused officials in Immigration, Customs, and middle management of threatening customs and immigration workers, adding: “They’ve been taped saying certain things.”

He added: “We’re under a trade dispute, meaning members are immune to any kind of penalty. The Minister said something about letting Defence Force officers do the job. But the United States doesn’t take too kindly when people not trained in immigration matters man the ports. Trained immigration officers could detect things untrained Defence Force officers can’t. And if they are concerned about the turnout, then let me say to you, how many people turned out for the general election? About less than 50 per cent of the voting public, so what, does that mean they must come down and turn the government to the other party?”

“They don’t need to provoke us, certainly not with a strike certificate in hand. With this, you cannot fire anyone at anytime. If we choose to be out half the year, they cannot fire us,” he said.