The Tribune

By KEILE CAMPBELL

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) president Linda Davis responded to questions concerning a protest by unionised BTVI staff a month ago.

She said the administration has engaged in discussions with the Bahamas Union of Teachers (UTEP) and the Bahamas General Workers Union, addressing various challenges.

“Industrial relations are industrial relations, and BTVI has embraced the opportunity to partner with unions, to partner with all stakeholders, and I believe the unions would be the first to say that we have been very open and amenable to working out differences,” she said.

She added that the smooth start to the academic year indicates a period of relative stability “at least at this juncture”, considering that UTEB threatened industrial action at their protest back in mid-July.

“We have sat to the table, as we do with both unions, not only UTEB but the Bahamas General Workers Union, and we’ve worked through where there have been challenges,” she said. “Will there be no issues going forward? I doubt that. But, you know, I have a saying that a mentor of mine always said: In conflict, sometimes the best decisions and actions emerge, and so we look forward to working very closely with unions, with all stakeholders.”

She said supplementary agreements involving unionized staff have been worked on. One agreement, she said, spoke to the workload for instructors.

“I believe, as indicated as we began the semester, the academic year without incident, as far as I’m aware, we are on a good wicket, as they say in cricket,” she said.