The Tribune

FORMER Minister of Labour and Social Development, Dion Foulkes, called on the Bahamas Telecommunications Company to reinstate BCPMU’s Vice President, Elizabeth Thompson who was terminated from her post on Monday.

Mr Foulkes said that based on the facts that were before the public, it was clear to him that the termination of employment of Ms Thompson was contrary to the Industrial Relations Act and the Industrial Agreement between the BCPMU and BTC.

“Section 107 of the Code of Industrial Practice, Industrial Relations Act, states: Where there has been misconduct, the disciplinary action to be taken will depend on the circumstances, including the nature of the misconduct.

“But normally the procedure should operate as follows; the first step should be an oral warning or, in the case of more serious misconduct, a written warning setting out the circumstances.

“No employee should be dismissed for a first breach of discipline except in the case of gross misconduct; action on any further misconduct, for example, final warning suspension without pay or dismissal, should be recorded in writing; details of any disciplinary action should be given in writing to the employees and to his work-place representative; and no disciplinary action should be taken against a workplace representative until the circumstances of the case have been discussed with a full-time official of the trade union concerned,” he said.

A union official cannot be terminated unless the circumstances of the case has been discussed with a full-time official of the BCPMU, Mr Foulkes added.

“There is no provision in our laws to terminate an employee without cause, as was done to Ms Thompson, subject to provisions in the Industrial Agreement and I am advised that there are no such provisions. BTC did not follow the proper procedure in terminating Ms Thompson and I urge them to reinstate her forthwith,” he said.

The union’s vice president, Ms Thompson said she was given a letter by BTC management last Monday that stated she was being terminated from her senior manager, legal and regulatory position – which she had held for more than four years.