The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A Cabinet minister yesterday said the government was “very concerned” that Morton Salt and its line staff union swiftly “reach a settlement” to end ongoing industrial tension in Inagua.

Dion Foulkes, minister of labour, said: “We are very concerned about the situation in Inagua. There have been several conciliation meetings here in New Providence at the Department of Labour.

“We have settled all the articles in the new industrial agreement except the economic issues relating to increases in salary and a proposed increase of their [the workers’] health insurance.”

Mr Foulkes, speaking ahead of yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, said Inagua is a “one company town”, with the island’s economy almost totally dependent on Morton Salt’s success.

“We can’t force a settlement in any labour dispute. We can encourage both sides to sit down and talk, and give a little bit,” he added. “We do not want any disruption in terms of operation of the plant there. That’s not good for the worker or the owners of Morton Salt.”

Morton Salt, in a statement last week, said it hopes to “soon” conclude an industrial deal despite a “very tense” working environment where the line staff union has held-off on potential strike action.

The salt harvester, Inagua’s largest employer, said it was aiming to achieve a “comprehensive and fair” industrial agreement with the Bahamas Industrial, Manufacturers and Allied Workers Union (BIMAWU) even though the relationship between the two sides remains strained.

Morton Salt’s spokesman, Paul Jackiewicz, released a statement from the company which said: “We hope to resolve the ongoing negotiations soon with a comprehensive and fair labour agreement that maintains a safe and successful facility for our employees.”

Jennifer Brown, the union’s president, previously told Tribune Business that tensions were high at the Inagua plant with workers expressing safety concerns.

Those tensions have escalated in recent weeks. The company issued warning letters last week to several employees over what it claimed was an “intentional slowdown”, and suspended at least three for a week.

The union has in recent months gone public over its dispute with Morton Salt regarding a new industrial agreement. Ms Brown recently told this newspaper that the union, which represents some 100-line staff, had been been “pushed” to take strike action after the company made no improvements to its purported counter-offer. The threat of industrial unrest has loomed over Morton Salt’s Inagua operations since late last year.