Executives of The Bahamas Electrical Workers Union (BEWU) and the government are expected to head back to the negotiating table sometime today in another bid to resolve outstanding contractual issues and possibly end the union’s weeklong go-slow.
In an interview with The Bahama Journal Wednesday, BEWU President Dennis Williams said the union is hoping to smooth over existing tensions and conclude its industrial action before the weekend.
Executive members of the BEWU moved to stage industrial action last Thursday, after coming out of what they called a frustrating meeting with BEC management officials who reportedly failed to compromise on their positions regarding five of six industrial issues.
Those issues include BEC’S pension plan, the alleged breach of the four-year contract signed just last year, concerns regarding workers’ safety, the alleged victimization of Eleuthera employees and management’s alleged failure to comply with the Employment Act as it relates to working hours.
Union executives claim that BEC employees work more than 40 hours a week.
Mr. Williams has promised that should such issues remain outstanding, industrial action “will be heightened”.
“We have already reduced our enthusiasm,” he said. “This is just the first step in industrial action.”
BEC General Manager Kevin Basden has maintained that the Corporation’s management continues to negotiate in good faith and would like to see an amicable conclusion to the dispute.
Meantime, Acting President of the Bahamas Electrical Managerial Union (BEUMU), Ronnie Stevenson yesterday told the Bahama Journal that the lines of communication between the union and labour officials remain open, as efforts continue to seal a new industrial contract.
The BEUWU’s labour contract expired September 2003.
The union is hoping to secure a better remuneration package, which Mr. Stevenson feels falls “far behind” that of the other public corporations.
BEUWU officials last met with Labour Minister Vincent Peet this past Monday.
According to Mr. Stevenson, efforts are still being made to resolve the issue as soon as possible.
The BEUWU has promised to also stage industrial action should protracted contract negotiations with Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) executives drag on.
By: Macushla N. Pinder, The Bahama Journal
