The Tribune

GONE are the days when unions could demand that they would negotiate industrial contracts with no one but the prime minister.

It was a bitter joke in the Pindling era that the late Sir Lynden felt so beholden to unions for his position as head of state, that when faced with a group of demanding unionists, he would push a blank piece of paper across the table with the invitation: “Write what you want.”

This was probably an exaggeration, but it explained the reason that so many of government’s union agreements have clauses that no sound businessman would have ever considered. But, of course, as the politician was dependent on the union vote, and the money the politician was signing away in benefits was the Bahamian people’s taxes, it was only natural that the unionists came before the people.

However, today the joy ride has come to an end. The cupboard is bare. The Bahamas is broke. The Bahamas Electricity Corporation, if a private company, would have long since been in receivership.

When the PLP became the government in 2012, Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller, was appointed BEC chairman. His first promise was to bring Bahamians’ electricity bills down. To do this he had to shave off some of the fat — mainly in staff overtime. Between 2012 and September this year he reduced the overtime from $12.7 million to $6 million.

But the corporation is so heavily in debt to its suppliers that despite the drop in global oil prices, Bahamians will not enjoy a drop in their electricity bills for some time to come – more shaving has to be done.

However, just a month before Christmas the union is pushing for a new industrial agreement to be signed.

“Whether Bahamians sympathise with us or not, they have to know that we are not unreasonable,” Bahamas Electrical Workers Union Paul Maynard, told the press on Tuesday. “We did not get anything else in that contract. We did not get more money, nothing. We understand the predicament the country is in and BEC is in. We kept the benefits we had, we gave up stuff, they gave up stuff. We came to an agreement, it is done and we are not going back to the drawing board because Mr Miller wants us to. We have no problem paying the insurance and the pension they want us to. We told them we will a long time ago, this is not our fault.”

However, contrary to what Mr Maynard says, should the new industrial agreement be signed, an additional $4.2 million will have to be found from an already bankrupt corporation for a lump sum payment for management and junior staff.

Now let’s take a look at the cost to the corporation of some of the staff’s existing benefits.

BEC now holds $157 million in a staff pension fund — this money is contributed by the public, to which the BEC worker pays nothing. It is an annual $9 million cost to the corporation.

The staffs’ medical fund costs between $5 and $6 million a year, to which, unlike private sector employees, BEC staff contribute nothing.

Transportation is provided for all employees at a cost of about half a million a year. And the work day starts the minute they board the bus for the drive to Clifton, not when they arrive and report for work. Their meal vouchers cost about $400,000 a year.

And there is a monthly gas allowance of $280 for those who, rather than take the bus, drive their car to work. This costs the corporation about $300,000 a year.

And as for the Christmas bonus, which is written into the contract, the corporation pays out no less that $1.2 million a year.

The Corporation has 980 permanent staff in addition to 102 contract staff.

As it was pointed out “the corporation has no money, the country is in peril, and these employees should be happy to have a job. They should not be crying for what is not there.”

Speaking to the press after Tuesday’s demonstration, Mr Maynard said the union has asked the Ministry of Labour for a strike vote. He said that as Mr Miller is always complaining about their overtime, they will not work overtime. “As of today, we will stop working overtime. We are on work to rule,” said Mr Maynard.

This is now Mr Miller’s opportunity to introduce a 24-hour rostering system. Overtime can be cut out completely. In the future staff can work a roster with fixed hours and a fixed salary. One staff roster will follow the other throughout a 24-hour cycle. Presently working days are seven hours, which includes lunch, Monday through Friday.

Even if more staff have to be engaged, it is estimated that at a cost of half a million at the end of the year rostering would save the corporation an annual $6 million. However, these men and woman, secure in their jobs — unlike so many other Bahamians — promise to strike and turn the lights off for Christmas should they not get what they want.

One day they might appreciate how well off they are — at least they have security in their employment, which is more than many of their fellow Bahamians have.

Unfortunately, the union has now reached a level that can no longer be supported by this country.