In a sign that all is not well with BEC’s management and the corporation’s line staff union, General Manager of The Bahamas Electricity Corporation Kevin Basden on Monday branded as illegal a work stoppage at the Clifton Pier Power Station on Friday.
“Management is extremely concerned about any type of industrial action, like the incident last Friday at the Clifton Pier Power Station (CPPS), which could negatively impact its smooth and efficient operations in supplying electricity to all of our customers,” said Mr. Basden, during a press conference at the Corporation’s headquarters.
“We regard these actions on the part of the union as an attempt at an intimidating tactic to keep us from discussing these matters at hand reasonably and rationally.”
Scores of workers walked off the job at the power station, claiming that conditions are unsafe.
However, President of the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union Dennis Williams said the walkout was not industrial action.
“That was a health and safety concern,” said Mr. Williams, who spoke with reporters outside the corporation. “It appears that BEC does not have the interest of the employees at the Clifton Power Station and the other power stations where exhaust leaks exist [at heart].”
Mr. Williams further claimed that at a meeting with labour officials on Friday, it was agreed that management will purchase gas masks for the staff at Clifton, but he said that had not been done.
“We hereby demand that BEC purchase these [masks] immediately for the staff,” he said, “or we would have no other choice but to remove those services from the Clifton Power Station.”
But at his press conference, Mr. Basden said, “Let me again emphasize that the health, safety and welfare of our employees is of paramount importance and we will always do what is reasonable and practicable to provide a healthy, safe working environment.
“Speaking candidly, we were shocked at the actions of the union last Friday, especially since we were advised that there was an illegal walkout taking place before any statements that concerned those workers at CPPS had been brought to management and before any of the necessary procedures had been followed.”
Mr. Basden told reporters that when management did become aware of the actions of the employees and their allegations about the plant, the Ministry of Health was contacted immediately and a special team was dispatched.
He said by Friday afternoon, the Ministry produced a written report on the findings of their investigation, which was given to BEC and to the union.
Mr. Basden said the team found “no acute risk that would warrant staff being removed from their stations.”
In response to this report, Mr. Williams insisted, “A medical survey was not done. A preliminary report by a person who is allegedly applying to be a safety manager at BEC was doneﾅIt seems that the report was not done in good faith.”
He said the International Labour Organization should come in to do “an independent” report.
But the issue of industrial unrest at BEC goes far beyond workers’ concerns about the Clifton Power Plant being an “unsafe” place to work.
The corporation’s general manager reminded that in 2004, management and the union signed a four-year, $16.5 million industrial agreement that was retroactive to 2003 and that expires in 2007.
“This agreement took over a year to negotiate, during which time all points were negotiated fully and extensively before being agreed to and signed by both sides,” Mr. Basden said.
“In spite of this existing contract, however, the union is now making additional demands, over and above what was already agreed upon.”
He said under the existing contract, there is a process for dealing with disagreements and disputes.
“However, because these normal dispute procedures are not being followed, it is clear that any action taken by the union is, if not illegal, certainly premature,” Mr. Basden added. “In fact, management is of the view that there are no issues presently being discussed which warrant any industrial action whatsoever.
“The management of BEC took many things into consideration when negotiating these existing industrial agreement with BEWU. Besides the welfare and satisfaction of our employees, we were very mindful of our customers, men and women all over The Bahamas, who depend upon us for an essential service at a reasonable rate.”
Mr. Basden continued, “We believed then and we believe now that the agreement was signed with the BEWU a year ago was good for our employees, good for our customers and good for the nation and represents a good faith effort to control the cost of doing business in The Bahamas without negatively impacting the economy.”
He said because of these “new demands” on the part of the BEWU, the cost of doing business could increase.
“If these new demands are not property and reasonably discussed there could be significant adverse impact on BEC and on the economy,” Mr. Basden warned. “We are mindful of the skyrocketing fuel surcharge and its effects on the cost of electricity.”
Regarding the industrial contract, Mr. Williams said it provides for management and the union to sit down and negotiate a merit-pay system.
“We are very flabbergasted at management’s claims that the contract, even though it is signed and executed, it is voided at this time,” he claimed.
The BEWU president said the union has other concerns, including what he claimed is BEC’s violation of the law as it relates to the 40-hour workweek. He said the corporation has also failed to address salary anomalies.
Stephen Gay, The Bahama Journal
