The Tribune

By KEILE CAMPBELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

MEMBERS of the Bahamas Educators Managerial Union returned to work yesterday after the Supreme Court ordered an end to its industrial action, but its president says the grievances that triggered the industrial action remain unresolved and relations with the government are “not in a good place”.

Supreme Court Justice Darron Ellis granted an interim injunction on an application by Education Minister Chester Cooper and Attorney General Wayne Munroe, restraining BEMU officers and members from encouraging, inducing or intimidating employees to remain away from work.

BEMU president Stephen McPhee said members would return to their posts, even as he maintained the union had not been formally served with the injunction when he spoke, and he challenged claims the government made in seeking the order.

He said some outstanding promotion matters had been addressed but represented only “40 some percent” of those at issue.

Mr McPhee said Mr Cooper and his team committed to taking steps to address the remaining grievances, but no firm deadline was provided.

He said the minister undertook to pursue a resolution within a reasonable period.

“We are not in a good place, honestly, at this point with the minister and his team,” Mr McPhee said.

The union president defended BEMU’s decision to invoke its strike certificate, saying its concerns had remained unresolved for too long.

He said the union had sought to brief the new education minister on its longstanding problems and work with him towards solutions.

He said it was unfortunate that strike action had become necessary before those concerns received the attention BEMU had sought.

The court order brought the industrial action to an end, but Mr McPhee said the union remained dissatisfied with assertions he said were contained in material filed by the government.

He said BEMU became aware online that an injunction had been obtained, but had not been served with the order at the time he spoke.

He said union officials raised the issue during their meeting with education officials and sought a copy of the legal document requiring members to return to work.

Mr McPhee also disputed a claim he attributed to the Director of Education that only seven schools in The Bahamas had vacancies involving non-substantive principals. “As we said, that is not so, that is not right, that is not true nor fair,” he said.

Mr McPhee put BEMU’s estimate at roughly 30 to 40 schools and said the union would provide a list to support its position.

“In our defence of our members who took a legitimate strike, we are very disappointed with that,” he said.

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis also intervened in the dispute, according to Mr McPhee, who said the prime minister questioned how the matter had escalated and asked to be allowed to help resolve the outstanding issues.

Mr McPhee said the assurances later given by Mr Cooper echoed commitments Mr Davis had made to the union the night before.

“We did give the prime minister our commitment last night that we will go back and trust his word because the two times prior he delivered,” Mr McPhee said. “But the members of BEMU, at this point, are not good at this point with the employer.”

While the Supreme Court injunction required an end to the industrial action, Mr McPhee said BEMU would continue engaging with the government on the strength of the commitments it had received from Mr Davis and Mr Cooper.

“At this point, our members are to work,” Mr McPhee said. “Respectfully, we got a commitment from the leader of the nation. We will give respect to that.”

He said the union would now allow education officials to make good on their assurances.

“We are going to hold the Minister of Education, the Parliamentary Secretary, the Permanent Secretary and the Director to their words,” Mr McPhee said. “We will continue to allow those vehicles, give them an opportunity.”