The Commonwealth Electrical Workers Union (CEWU) and Grand Bahama Power Company (GBPC) executives have been at odds for several weeks over a new industrial contract.
In fact, the union initiated a ‘work to rule’ exactly two weeks ago today after both sides had reached a stalemate in negotiations last month.
No employee has worked overtime and no standby or emergency personnel has worked after hours.
But GBPC Chief Executive Officer and President Dave Dunbar said yesterday the employees have not only worked to rule, they have been working very slow.
Now, outages on weekends and evenings, when linemen would normally continually work until the problem is solved, have been longer.
With the ‘work to rule in Effect,’ he said, the employees go home between 4:15 and 4:30, regardless of whether the customers are still out of service.
According to Dunbar, the employees also quit work at 12 noon for lunch, take their wash-up time and then get back to work.
Productivity is terrible and has adversely affected the company financially, Dunbar explains, noting that the company was already weakened by hurricanes and the economy of Freeport.
Revenues from residential customers are now 15 percent lower this year than from this time last year and while the number of customers have remained the same, it is, says Dunbar, a sign that people are using less electricity.
And with accounts payable being higher as people are unable to pay their bill, Dunbar admits it is not a good time for a work to rule or for the union to be asking for things that are above reasonable.
“We have tried to be very reasonable with a 12 percent lump sum, then a five percent increase, then a three percent then a five percent,” Dunbar said. “We know that inflation is only running at two-and-a-half percent in The Bahamas, so this means that not only are our employees keeping up with inflation, but they’re getting better than inflation.”
Meanwhile, Dunbar points out, the company is not getting any more productivity out of the employees.
Dunbar says the union informed management of the strike vote via a letter on Wednesday, adding that it came as a surprise because they had expected to meet with Labour Minister Shane Gibson today in what was to be the second concilliation meeting.
It would be the second such strike vote at the Grand Bahama Port Authority in about five years.
One of the matters of contention in negotiations is Article 22, which deals with staff rules and regulations.
The company insists there is no hidden agenda as it cannot change anything in the agreement without the full agreement of the union.
“I believe the union has misrepresented what we want to its members. Article 22 is not about the contract at all,” he insists.
“It is about a cellphone policy, e-mail policy, taking trucks home at night.”
He says they are simply asking the union not to be unreasonable when they come to them and that the union give a response in 14 to 21 days.
Under Article 23, which addresses disciplinary action, GBPC says it proposes to include “Incompetence and gross incompetence” as minor and major breaches.
Dunbar says the company has been asking the union back to the table for about a month, since the last meeting on August 16.
“Some of our employees do not fully understand what our position is on Article 22, they don’t fully understand why they’re on ‘work to rule’ right now and I want them to be informed voters,” he stressed.
CEWU President Keith Knowles says the union petitioned government for the strike vote citing that both parties are still at an impasse and that the proviso for Article 22 is a “union-busting clause masquerading under the name of reasonableness.”
“This was designed to create exodus for the workers. That’s like a massive dismissal for instance like employees who have been there 10 years and over, the company would be prepared to terminate them willingly,” he declared.
That, he says would definitely adversely affect the terms and conditions of employment for the employees in the bargaining unit and the union will not accept that.
Knowles underscored the importance for the 132 union members to vote today.
“It is vitally important for our members to participate in this strike poll because it is going to protect their rights, their employment, their family and the future of this organization,” he said.
The polls will be open at the Port Authority Workers Union office on Yellow Pine Street between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:00 p.m.
By LEDEDRA MARCHE, Senior Freeport News Reporter
