The Tribune

ON TUESDAY Labour Minister Dion Foulkes, speaking with a Tribune reporter, seemed confused by striking Customs and Immigration employees. He said that all of the union's concerns had been discussed last month, and resolved.

The issues for which they were now striking were new -- such as a new contract and health insurance. They were matters that were not a part of the original strike vote, Mr Foulkes said, and, therefore, not brought up at the meetings.

The shift system, although introduced by the Christie government in 2006, is another bone of contention. Although most of those now complaining signed contracts agreeing to work a shift, they now contend that the terms of their contract are illegal. Even on this issue, Mr Ingraham capitulated and agreed to pay Customs and Immigration staff overtime under the Employment Act. This means that whereas they were paid a fixed rate under the contract they signed with the Christie government, the Employment Act stipulates that civil servants be paid time and a half. The Prime Minister agreed to pay them overtime as specified under the Act. Yet they are still out on strike.

"The Prime Minister has met with the unions - with the leadership of customs and immigration," said Mr Foulkes. "I have met four times with the union and I frankly just do not understand them because we have agreed in principle to pay shift premium and overtime pay retroactive to 2010. We have agreed to pay hazard allowance. All of the demands that the union has put in the trade dispute, we have agreed to settle. So, frankly, I don't understand what the issue is now."

Mr Foulkes said that the amount of money Government agreed to pay Customs and Immigration workers is significant -- "it's in the millions."

Despite this the unions have sworn not to return to work until they get what they want. They tried to alarm Bahamians this week by claiming that our borders were being exposed to criminals and drug dealers, because several Defence Force officers are doing an excellent job of replacing them at the airport. Although legally not classified as such, we would consider Immigration an essential service, because tourism, which these workers are now trying to torpedo, is this country's main industry. Let tourism be compromised and every man, woman and child in this country suffers. It is not right that a handful of public officers should be allowed to hold this country to ransom.

By their placards they themselves don't seem to know why they have left their stations. "It's not about overtime" one placard read. Another said that "Saunders Beach bathroom cost $230,600; Cost of putting sand on Saunders Beach $2.2 million - Nothing for government workers."

Don't they realise that all of this -- done with taxpayers' money -- is to improve their leisure time? And to say that they got nothing -- unless their union leaders have not made full disclosure -- is a lie. They have probably got more than they should have.

This reminds us of the Pindling days when unionists refused to sit down with anyone but Sir Lynden, because, in a pinch, they knew he was an easy touch. They always got him at a time when he daren't say no, and always walked away with a contract that the country could not afford. It was often said that at the negotiating table he just pushed a blank sheet of paper across the table to the union leader, and said: "Write what you want!"

We do not know whether this was an exaggeration, but we were inclined to believe it was true because the resulting union contracts were mad - many of them made no business sense. Years ago, one of our employees gave in his notice and wanted us to pay him extra money for leaving -- money that we would have had to have paid him if we had fired him. Asked where he got such a crazy notion, he replied that that is what Sir Lynden gave ZNS staff. We never checked to find out if this were true, all we know is that he left us empty-handed.

Not only is Mr Foulkes confused about the present union unrest, but unionists themselves seem confused as to why they are not at work. Obviously, this is political. While mealy-mouthed politicians are smiling sweetly and urging their followers to have a peaceful election, behind the scenes their henchmen are trying to create chaos. Bahamians should remember this when they go to the polls and vote for a government that puts their best interests first.

At the FNM rally at RM Bailey Park last night, Prime Minister Ingraham expressed thanks "to a special group of dedicated public officers who regardless of circumstances fulfil their duty and provide service to the general public.

"Right now," he said, "some for political purposes are encouraging public officers in a number of departments to withhold their services. And some are doing so notwithstanding damage to the interests of our country. To those loyal sons and daughters of The Bahamas, who provide yeoman's service beyond the call of duty, filling in for those who shirk their responsibility and duty, I express my heartfelt thanks and that of a very grateful nation."