Management at the Bahamas Electricity Corporation is deeming Tuesday’s walk-out by workers an illegal act, and some disciplinary measures may be taken.
The corporation’s executives are claiming that the walk-out was unwarranted and did not follow the proper procedure as outlined in the industrial agreement.
In a press release issued to the media, management said it would be taking the appropriate action against those who were involved.
The employees walked off their jobs shortly after 11 a.m. (Tuesday), vowing not to return until the Information Technology manager, had been removed from her post and the premises. She had just returned to work after a week’s absence. On Oct. 7, she was reportedly sent home by management and ordered to seek counselling and some training because of her alleged inhumane treatment of staff.
The decision was reportedly taken, after an employee fell out on the job after being the managed refused his request for vacation leave. At that time the employee was said to be feeling ill.
Tuesday action came to ahead when employees found out that the manager had not received counseling or training, as she had agreed to do.
The walk-out brought services at the government-owned corporation to a standstill for more than three hours. The windows for the payment of bills were closed and customers were turned away. Security guards stood idly by, as if on alert for any incident.
Bahamas Electrical Workers Union president Dennis Williams said: “The union cannot be bullied or pushed into a corner by any person or group of persons and BEC must understand clearly, that workers will not be disrespected.
This manager has a record for industrial discrepancies, greater than any person ever in the history of this corporation and she is not suitable to be a manager to deal with persons. BEC must deal with this matter or the union will have to continue to deal with his matter.”
The union said they had hoped to deal with the matter before today.
“The officers of the union, in an attempt last week to resolve this matter, met with management after our member was rushed to the hospital and it was agreed that she would be moved out of the section and would have to undergo some psychological evaluation and some training.”
In the release, BEC said it believes that the manager followed the proper process and is urging its employees to do the same to resolve internal disputes and avoid chaos.
From: The Nassau Guardian
