The Tribune

By DANA SMITH dsmith@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas Educators Managerial Union could become the official bargaining agent for supervisors and managers at the Ministry of Education before the month is over, union representatives said yesterday. Speaking at a press conference, BEMU president Charles Wildgoose said fighting for official recognition has been a "long struggle" that began in 2008. At the time, there was "no voice" for school administrators, he said. Trade Union Congress (TUC) president Obie Ferguson, who acted as BEMU's lawyer, said that on February 21, Supreme Court Justice K Neville Adderley ruled against the government, which had sought to block the union's attempt to represent ministry managers. "The court saw fit after hearing arguments, to order the Labour and Social Development Minister to carry out his statutory duty to determine whether the BEMU is entitled to recognition as the bargaining agent for the supervisory and management employees of the ministry of education," Mr Ferguson said. "The court went further to be rather specific. The court said such determination is to be made according to law within a reasonable time but in any event, before 4pm on Friday March 30." Mr Ferguson said he contacted Labour Minister Dion Foulkes following the ruling and scheduled a meeting well before the court's deadline. "I wrote the minister a letter and I advised the minister that we are to meet on March 7 to dispose of paragraph 28 of this order which determines the exact time (and) the date, when the certificate ought to be realised," Mr Ferguson said. "I've gotten assurance from the minister that we - meaning the executive council of this union along with me as counsel - will have a meeting with him on March 7, at which time the minister will facilitate the granting of the determination certificate. "That is a very significant move and I want to thank the minister in advance for doing that which is right, that which is in accordance with the law, and that which I think will help to establish this union." Education managers need their own representation because of the special role they play, Mr Wildgoose said. He noted that the BEMU doesn't feel school administrators or managers are better than teachers, but that there is a "distinct difference" in the terms and conditions of service. "We were always desirous and often felt that the educational managers - who include school administrators, principals, vice principals, senior persons, and education officers in the Department of Education and the department section in the Ministry of Education - we always felt that these persons needed a voice," he said. "We felt that everyone else had a voice, the Bahamas Union of Teachers basically spoke for teachers and they acted for teachers, but we felt that because of our job description, because of the special role we play in education - we run schools that are responsible for millions of dollars and hundreds of children and also teachers and auxiliary staff - we felt that our role has always been very important." There are around 240 members in the BEMU. The union wants to discuss a number of issues with government, among them comprehensive medical insurance, workplace safety and hours of service.