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ZNS Shut Down By Rioting Workers

ZNS television was knocked off the air in the middle of the evening news broadcast as members of the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU) and the Bahamas Communications and Public Managers Union (BCPMU) took control of the newsroom of the state broadcasting company.

Despite the presence of high-ranking police officers, hordes of union members refused to leave the building.

The unions and staff staged the industrial action in protest of the downsizing process at the Broadcasting Company of the Bahamas (BCB). The BCB board is seeking to reduce staff at ZNS by 80.

After a tense day trying to resolve the situation, BCB Chairman Michael Moss attempted to leave the building but was blocked by union employees.

As some of the staff started to prepare the evening news, union members made it clear that the evening news would be produced.

ZNS general manager Edwin Lightbourn entered the newsroom around 6:00pm demanding that employees return to their jobs.

“Please vacate this area. That’s all I’m going to ask,” Lightbourn said to the staff. His demands were ignored.

Even after requests from BCPOU President Bernard Evans, BCPOU Secretary General Denise Wilson and BCPMU President William Carroll, the workers refused to leave.

Finally, after some behind-the-scene discussions between management, the union and police, workers left the newsroom at 6:45pm, and ZNS anchor Jerome Sawyer prepared to do the news.

The news broadcast began shortly after 7:00pm but immediatley after Mr Sawyer presented the lead story about the industrial unrest at ZNS, a fire alarm went off. Staff members cheered before leaving the building.

Police attempted to calm the situation again as the staff assembled outside. After consulting with union leaders and ZNS management, police recommended that the staff leave the ZNS parking lot so that police could take custody of the building for the night.

ZNS did not return to regular programming after the fire alarm was activated and police took charge of the building overnight.

The outrageous criminal activity was endorsed by union leaders with BCPOU President Bernard Evans telling his members that he has “witnessed the birth of the new BCPOU in ZNS.”

The BCB has offered a ‘sweetener’ package to those who accept the voluntary separation package. The deal includes an extra three to four months pay, in addition to what is owed the departing workers under the current industrial agreement between the company and the unions.

The unions want more. Evans has pledged to continue the unrest until the union’s demands are met.

“We will not relinquish, we will not stop until justice reigns down,” he said.

However, government has said the separation packages offered to departing workers will not be increased.

Mr Evans has even threatened the Prime Minister and the FNM party, saying he will “go after” them in the next general election.

Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham made it clear that he will not be bullied by the union and refuses to intervene.

Responding to Evans’ threats at a news conference at Atlantis yesterday, Mr Ingraham said:

“I read in the newspaper this morning that the union leader said that if I want a long political life I would do what they demand that I do. Well, I do not want a long political life. I do not seek a long political life. I seek to do the best I can while I’m here for as long as I can or as long as people would have me do it,” the Prime Minister said.

“So if he or others think that decisions, which I take are taken with a view to an election, they are dead wrong. I’m doing the best I can under the circumstances and if that endures to the benefit of my party, fine. If we are punished because we have done what we think is right, then that’s fine. But I do not like people threatening me. I don’t like it at all.

“There is absolutely no need for interference by the prime minister of The Bahamas – none whatsoever,” he added.

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