The Tribune

There is little doubt that the trade union movement in the Bahamas continues to play a pivotal role in improving the quality of life for workers. Great men and women in our history have laboured to develop organisations aimed at advancing the standard of living for Bahamians, both in the private and public sector.

Today’s column is merely a lay person’s assessment of the value of trade unions in the Bahamian context, and to offer suggestions for those who continue to champion the cause of employees.

The first, and perhaps most obvious, benefit of trade unions to the workforce is their bargaining efforts to better the working conditions of workers and the workplace. No one can deny that over the past 50 years since Majority Rule we have seen tremendous improvements to worker benefits packages and the physical condition in which they work.

The trade union movement in the Bahamas has been a driving force in lobbying the Government for globally-acceptable standards and legislation to support workers’ rights. These laws have helped improve the standard of living that employees now experience.

There is little doubt that in the absence of trade unions, many employers (left to their own devices) would take advantage of employees, withholding even basic entitlements from them. As intermediaries on behalf of the worker, these unions can take employers to task and demand fairness.

On the flip side, the trade union movement has (perhaps not deliberately) created some vexing workplace conditions that might be viewed as counterproductive to the high level of productivity and efficiency we strive for.

Unions often seem quite unrealistic in their demands of employers and the Government. This pressure sometimes places an undue financial burden on the employer and the Government, forcing them to make financial adjustments that might become an impediment to growth.

Many would argue that unions seem to produce a lazy workforce, where the slackers find refuge and have an advocate when they really should be sent home (for good). When unions fight with all their might for improvements and additional benefits, but fail to hold the workforce accountable for increasing efficiency and productivity in the same measure, a spirit of mediocrity sets in and service levels hit an all-time low. There is grave concern that we have arrived at that very place as a nation where, according to research indicators provided by Compete Caribbean, the Bahamas - despite having the highest-paid salaries in the region - suffers from extremely high levels of inefficiency and low productivity.

The solution to this dilemma, then, might be a shifting of focus for trade unions towards investing more in building workforce capacity and developing talent. Insisting that employees are assessed in developmental ways, and that professional development is offered across sectors, will certainly prove beneficial.

We must all do our part in equipping the workforce with the attitude, skills and competencies required for success. Trade unions, without question, play an integral role in this fight.

• NB: Ian R. Ferguson is a talent management and organisational development consultant, having completed graduate studies with regional and international universities. He has served organsations, both locally and globally, providing relevant solutions to their business growth and development issues. He may be contacted at tcconsultants@coralwave.com.