The Tribune

By SANCHESKA DORSETT

Tribune Staff Reporter

Sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

NEARLY half of the 77 Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) contractors who were allegedly told to sign new contracts or be terminated have agreed to BTC's new terms, Labour Minister Dion Foulkes confirmed yesterday.

In an interview with The Tribune, Mr Foulkes said the remaining employees have until next week to sign the new contract or BTC will "do what they have to do."

In a statement yesterday, BTC CEO Dexter Cartwright finally commented in public on the issue. He said to date "all of our existing contractors in Northern Bahamas and 38 percent in New Providence have signed the new independent contractor agreement."

In a statement BTC management clarified there have been no terminations at the company as a result of the contract dispute.

Meeting

"The company met with the independent contractors and discussed the terms and conditions of the new contract which took effect on November 1. During the meeting, the contractors were advised of the time frame to review the new contract and provide comments for consideration," the BTC statement said.

"During the meeting, the Department of Labour was represented, and BTC has been working in conjunction with the department to ensure that the terms of the contract are in keeping with the labour laws of the country. BTC has a massive transformation agenda and driving improvements in the overall customer experience is paramount for us. Our ultimate goal is to serve our customers, our communities and the country with excellence. We will continue to do the same, buoyed by the passion of a team determined to be the best, every day," the company added.

On Monday, Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU) President Bernard Evans told The Tribune BTC had threatened to terminate contracts of 147 workers if they did not sign a new agreement by 1pm on Tuesday. However, Mr Foulkes has said the number of affected employees is only 77.

Mr Evans said at the time the employees have all agreed to "stand their ground" and not sign the new contracts until they have "proper representation" and time to renegotiate.

He said the employees accepted voluntary separation packages (VSOP) from BTC some time ago, under the guise they "could become entrepreneurs."

However, he said two years later, BTC seems to be "going back on their word."

Yesterday, Mr Foulkes said he intervened on behalf of the workers and BTC has given them an extension to allow them to review the contract.

"There are 77 persons, so I have been told, who were involved in the contractual agreement with BTC and over half of them have signed the new contract," Mr Foulkes said.

"I have been told that 23 signed in Grand Bahama and three in other Family Islands. Of the 53 in New Providence, 11 have signed the new contract. So the remaining persons in Nassau and the others in the Family Islands BTC has agreed to allow them an opportunity to review the contract. I have also spoken with Bernard Evans and we are continuing our discussions tomorrow (Friday)."

On Monday, Mr Evans explained the situation.

Packages

"About two years ago, (some) employees in the technical field were made to accept voluntary separation packages and were told that BTC would outsource the department," the union leader told The Tribune.

"They were also encouraged to form into a company and BTC would give them the contract to perform the same services.

"At the time, the union negotiated that the workers would continue to make salaries until they put together the company and BTC was able to prepare the RFP.

"Well, two companies emerged from among those persons, however two years later BTC took the RFP off the table and now they want to change the terms and conditions of the agreement and sign a new deed of release and have a new contract."