The Nassau Guardian
Umbrella unions meet with PM over labor concerns
Trade Union Congress (TUC) President Obie Ferguson said union representatives met with Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday and hope to meet with him again tomorrow about their concerns.
Ferguson said they presented the government with a list of those concerns.
The umbrella union and its affiliates have threatened industrial action for several weeks.
The most recent threat came during a union rally at St. Gregory’s Anglican Church two weeks ago.
“We are seeking specific dates on the issues raised by me and the respective affiliates, both the TUC and the NCTUB (National Congress of Trade Unions of The Bahamas),” Ferguson said.
“That is our objective, so we can know precisely what, if any, the dates when these matters are going to be dealt with.
“...Those issues have been allowed to accumulate over the years, so it is quite a bit to deal with.”
Ferguson has said if the government does not resolve outstanding labor concerns, the umbrella unions would “level the playing field” in order to bring “respect and sanity in the workplace”.
He has criticized the Department of Labour, adding that with only two reconciliation hearings per day, the department is not productive and has allowed a “clogging of the system”.
He had also said the Industrial Tribunal is not designed to assist the working class.
Ferguson claims there are 11 unions that fall under the TUC that have not signed off on their respective agreements with the government.
Yesterday, Ferguson said union executives wanted to give the government another opportunity to address the concerns, but “we have had enough of it and workers are suffering in this country”.
Ahead of the meeting yesterday, Ferguson said, “The workers are very disappointed and our objective is to meet with the prime minister, the head of state and the minister of finance, to find a solution on these matters,
“If they are not resolved, we have said we are going to withdraw our labor.”
Asked how soon the union would act in the event it is not satisfied, Ferguson said that would be discussed immediately following a union meeting.
The umbrella union said it would hold a general meeting soon to discuss the outcome of the meeting and the way forward.
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