The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMA Public Service Union president, John Pinder is calling for the immediate removal of Fort Charlotte MP Andre Rollins as chairman of the Gaming Board, citing “union-busting tactics” allegedly used by Dr Rollins, who he claims, “acts like a dictator.”

Mr Pinder claimed that staff members at the Gaming Board, who are unionist, are being “intimidated and threatened” and told they will not be promoted if they are involved in the union. This, Mr Pinder said, is in violation of the Industrial Relations Act.

And, pointing to Wednesday’s House of Assembly incident when Dr Rollins was slapped by FNM Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner, Mr Pinder said the incident only goes to show how Dr Rollins “does things to try to provoke people.”

“I am asking for the prime minister to remove Dr Rollins as chairman of the Gaming Board. He’s not a good person to work with. He’s not operating in good faith,” Mr Pinder said.

“Hearing about his actions yesterday, he appears to be a very provoke-ful guy and so I don’t want him to provoke me to a point where he causes me to lose my professionalism... After speaking to Dr Rollins on Monday, I realized that no one controls Dr Rollins – he doesn’t see fit; and that was further compounded by his actions yesterday in the House of Assembly.”

Mr Pinder explained Gaming Board staff have allegedly been advised, they will not be promoted if they are affiliated with the union or “carrying any union executive position.”

Four shop stewards have already resigned from their union positions and an executive manager at the Grand Bahama Gaming Board, John Curtis, has not been confirmed in his post – which he took six months ago – allegedly because of his union connection, Mr Pinder claimed.

“I spoke to (Dr Rollins) on Monday regarding this and he indicated to me that he doesn’t wish for what happened at BTC with relation to Elizabeth Thompson to happen to the Gaming Board,” he said.

“So my non-regional vice president (Mr Curtis) who is an acting assistant secretary was not confirmed in his position because he did not resign. So he has to resign now in order to be confirmed to the post.

“I have four shop stewards who have been intimidated to the point where they have resigned and one has asked for a transfer simply because they are not able to advance as long as they are actively involved in the union.”

The incident that Mr Pinder said Dr Rollins referenced involves Ms Thompson, vice president of the Bahamas Communication and Public Managers Union (BCPMU), being terminated from her post at BTC, last year. The phone company spoke of a “conflict of interest” in explaining the reasons for the firing. The BCPMU dubbed the firing a “blatant attack on unionism” and has been calling for her reinstatement, ever since.

Another issue with the BPSU involves Gaming Board deputy secretary, Rupert Smith, who Mr Pinder says was in line to become secretary of the board “not given the opportunity” allegedly because of his age.

“He was 59 at the time and the retirement age at the gaming board is 60. However, they brought back someone who was 64 or 65 and have them in a substantive post of training and investigation,” Mr Pinder said, noting that job carries a salary of around $60,000 to $70,000.

Further issues include staff being housed in the current Gaming Board location on Collins Avenue while it is still undergoing work, including painting and tiling, Mr Pinder said.

“We don’t believe that staffers ought to be in a working environment where repairs of any major amount are being carried out,” he said.

Also, staff are being “personally confronted” on their attire as a result of a new dress-code revealed at the start of the year, which Mr Pinder said is mainly geared towards women.

“Unfair promotion practices” are also an issue, according to the union. Mr Pinder said: “We have been trying to advocate for the gaming board to put a promotional committee in place so the union can have representation on that committee to cause promotions to be more transparent.”

The union is of the view that Gaming Board promotions “take place based on your relationship” with top Board officials, Mr Pinder said. “They’re being denied promotions because they’re not in the clique, so to speak, and we believe it’s time for that to change.”

Mr Pinder said he has spoken to Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe about the union’s issues who reportedly assured him there would be “certain things” changed.

“Nothing has changed, so obviously Dr Rollins is not listening to the minister,” Mr Pinder said. “I think we need a new chairman. He’s not operating in good faith, he’s not union-friendly at all, as a matter of fact, he acts like a dictator, as far as I’m concerned, towards the staffers. There’s a lot of discomfort among the staff at the Gaming Board at this time.”

Mr Pinder also hinted at problems with Gaming Board secretary Verdant Scott, stating: “I’m just hoping that a stronger chairman could whip this new secretary in line because he appears to also not be so union-friendly and he appears to say one thing and do otherwise.”