The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

JOHN Pinder, the Bahamas Public Services Union president, says a resolution to long standing issues could be in sight as talks between the government and unions continue.

Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, Mr Pinder said while the discussions have been making good progress the unions will continue to hold the government’s feet to the fire in treating Bahamian workers with respect.

Both the Trade Union Congress President Obie Ferguson and Mr Pinder have been in discussions with the government since threatening a three-day general strike last week.

Mr Pinder said: “The Minister has promised to ensure the matters would get the recognition they deserve. For the most part there were some matters that should have been resolved already. A lot of times there is talk and not sufficient action. So we just have to ensure that the heat remains on the government.

“I don’t think resolution is a long ways away because they know a general strike is looming. So I believe they will work hard towards resolve.”

Matters currently being discussed include the “double dipping”, amendments to redundancy laws and the rehiring of once terminated employees under contract and health insurance among other things.

Last week Mr Ferguson said there was nothing the government could do as unions prepared to hold a general strike for three days.

He said it was “unfortunate” that the unions had to consider mass strike action following years of calls for the government’s attention. He said it appeared that it was a necessity for “Black Tuesday” to recur.

“The idea is very simple: we have tried over and repeatedly to make the point that the Industrial Relations Act and the Employment Act as it stands is not progressive, it creates ambiguity and it’s a minefield, in my opinion, for unnecessary litigation. There are a whole range of issues that need to be addressed.

“The only thing the government seems to understand is if we close the country down. That’s the only time they wanna talk and we wanted to talk from 2012. So at this point meeting with the minister is not going to help us. It is too late for talk, what could they do? They want to see how much people we going to get out there and we will show them,” Mr Ferguson said.