The Tribune

THERE is “no question” that the present industrial relations system is set up to frustrate the Bahamian trade union movement, as one leader renewed his call for a united labour front.

Trades Union Congress (TUC) president, Obie Ferguson, told Tribune Business that there were a number of “burning issues” affecting the trade union movement.

“The present industrial relations system is set up to frustrate the labour movement, there is no question about that,” he said. “If you go to the Labour Board and filed a trade dispute, the only way that it can be resolved is if the two parties in the dispute decide to settle it.

“Industrial relations should be for the practitioners, the people who are dealing with the day-to-day issues. Lawyers are only supposed to get involved when there is a legitimate legal dispute.”

Mr Ferguson said trade unionists should put aside their differences and form a united front to advance the labour movement’s work. “You don’t need to be in one house to be a united labour front. As long as we are committed to the cause and say it is justified, forget our differences. Let us work and do that which is good for the Bahamas,” he added.

Mr Ferguson said history would suggest that trade unionists are not taken seriously until industrial action is taken.

“In the Bahamas the only thing we understand is industrial action. Unfortunately, that is what we believe. Until you do that nothing happens. Trying to be civil and discuss the matter, historically that doesn’t work in the Bahamas,” he added.

Mr Ferguson said there were a number of issues impacting the TUC, reiterating calls for the minimum wage to be raised. “The minimum wage is a burning issue for the TUC. We have taken a public position on that. We strongly believe that $150 a week or thereabouts is not sufficient to sustain an average household in the Bahamas. We want that to be corrected as soon as possible,” Mr Ferguson said.