The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune

I am a life long supporter of the rights or workers and their amalgamation into unions for the collective rights and respect due to them. Having said that, the question must be asked and sensibly answered: “Are unions now acting as a shadow administration in blatant attempts to coerce or strong arm the constitutional and duly elected government of The Bahamas? Recent labour “unrest” and now the strident and insulting “threat“ of Mrs. Belinda Wilson, the “forever“ President of The Bahamas Teachers’ Union, has thrown down the gauntlet to the Davis administration – You will bend or break, so to speak.

While historically successive administrations appear to drag their feet on labour negotiations, my position is clear, especially during these trying times. The Bahamas has been battered by Dorian and COVID. The economy is creeping back, but crutches are still needed. This is no time for unions and their putative ‘leaders’ to appear to adopt a demanding or else posture. If the Davis administration were to unilaterally capitulate to the demands of Madam Wilson, et al, a bad precedent would be set. Bahamians are in no position to suffer any more economic dislocation.

Teachers are a special breed and I fully support them being paid decently and being able to perform in optimum levels. We are all products of our teachers in large measure. Like nurses; law enforcement officers; customs and immigration, et al, they go out on a limb for us each and every day. In times of national emergencies, however, such as the inflation and soaring fuel charges we need to keep the financial engine ticking. Unions probably make up 15 percent of ordinary workers. Is it logical or sensible to allow such a relatively small group to hold the rest of Bahamians hostage while they seek to extract whatever it is that they say that they want?

Today’s trade unionists really need to go to their memberships and clearly tell them what is happening on the ground. I personally know of union members whose dues would have been deducted from their salaries and wages for eons, yet when some members apply for benefits or reasonable loans they are denied or rebuffed. What are the annual incomes of union leaders and who sets the same? Are there any perks and enhancements being offered and paid?

What about union owned buildings that need to get repaired much less completed? There is a huge ‘white elephant’ of a building on Bethel Avenue that has been under renovations for many months. There are other buildings in Grand Bahama and other islands that are on endless ‘renovations’? Who are the contractors; how were they selected or appointed and what are the known costs of these contracts?

Lastly, union leaders seemed to have adopted the attitude that once elected initially, they are to offer for the rest of their lives. Union leadership has morphed into lifetime sinecures at good pay while members often languish. Many of these so-called union leaders also use their positions as spring boards into the halls of parliament and even into cabinet ranks. Politicians, alas, also have fallen into the trap of musical chairs.

The Bahamian people are not pawns in some deadly chess game. I urge union leaders to go and tell it clearly, what the stark fiscal positions exist on the ground at this time. Let’s all act and behave as adults until we are able to emerge a little bit further. For now I also urge Madam Wilson, et al, to shut up and sit small.

ORTLAND H. BODIE, Jr.

Nassau,

July 24, 2022.