The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE manner in which trade unions and their members have been dealt with over the past several months has “taken a turn for the worse”, the Trade Union Congress’s (TUC) president said yesterday, adding that there had been a noticeable deterioration in labour relations in the Bahamas.

“The trade union leaders and the workers are very uncomfortable with the way things are going,” said Obie Ferguson.

“You are going to see a mass gathering of workers in this country, whether they are unions or not. You will see them moving in the direction of unity with the view of addressing some of the problems we have with the view of exposing them.”

Mr Ferguson added: “I would say that all of the unions are unhappy right now and it does not bode well for good industrial relations. The manner in which trade unions have been handled, and trade union leaders and their membership have been handled over the last several months, has really taken a turn for the worse.

“If you talk to workers in a one-on-one you would probably hear the same thing. For example, an employer is terminating the workers before the due process even begins. Normally the Ministry of Labour would prevent that even if by calling a meeting between the parties. I certainly see a deterioration of labour relations in this country, and I don’t think any trade union leader would suggest anything otherwise.”

Mr Ferguson said further: “The Ministry of Labour, in my humble opinion, should really be more proactive in trying to bring the parties together and hear the parties out, and cause the parties to reach an arrangement. That’s what the Ministry is supposed to be doing.”

With reports that Grand Bahama’s Grand Lucayan resort is planning to lay-off more than 50 full-time employees, Mr Ferguson said the union had requested a strike vote which would be held this coming Friday. C

The Commonwealth Union of Hotel Services and Allied Workers, which falls under the TUC, has alleged that the resort is replacing the employees with part-time staff who will have less job security.

“The union requested a strike vote. We expect that to be overwhelming. They refuse to meet with the union. There was an industrial agreement in place which requires that if there are going to be redundancies, it has to be done pursuant to the agreement,” said Mr Ferguson.

“Obviously, they have not complied with that. If the objective was to save cost, why wouldn’t they have given that contract to the workers themselves? If 55-60 persons are going to be laid off and they are giving the jobs to a company, the first option ought to be given to the workers. They are not prepared to entertain that.”