The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU) President Bernard Evans has dismissed the Bahamas Telecommunication Company's (BTC) decision to alert security forces to possible industrial action by union members amid impending layoffs exercises at the company, saying BTC workers are "fearless”.

A memo the Human Resource Department sent to staff on Wednesday said BTC has advised the Ministry of National Security and its own private security firm to be “on alert for any action by the unions”.

But Mr Evans said: "Security will only deter those who are afraid. But if we decide to take action, our workers would be fearless and not afraid. It's still time for management to at least meet us halfway on this issue and to bring an end to this unfair process that will negatively impact our workers."

The human resources department memo came a day after Secretary General Dino Rolle announced that BTC will make 140 people redundant next week as part of the corporation's first round of downsizing activities.

Mr Rolle said BTC advised both unions representing line staff and upper management that on Tuesday, June 30, the company intends to make a number of departments redundant.

This news, he said, has angered many union members, adding that strike action is “very possible”.

The Tribune understands that some of the areas that will be impacted by the downsizing exercises include retail stores, billing departments and directory publications.

Earlier this month, BCPOU President Bernard Evans said morale was low due to the way BTC was handling the issue. At the time, he said, BTC had left employees in limbo as they awaited their fate over looming layoffs.

“This has been the most painful, disgusting, poor exercise,” he said previously. “The morale of the staff – it’s as if you have a noose hanging outside the window and everyone is just watching you, don’t know when they will pull the gallows.

BTC CEO Leon Williams has defended the downsizing activities, saying the impending cuts are needed.

“This is not about emotions or about politics,” Mr Williams said earlier this year. “This is simply business. No bank, Atlantis, Baha Mar, is going to run it any differently. So let’s not get emotive, emotional about this. This is a business that we’ve got to run. And if we fold up, the Bahamian people lose 51 cents out of every dollar BTC makes.”