By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
THE BAHAMAS Electrical Workers Union is suing the Bahamas Electricity Corporation and Executive Chairman Leslie Miller, according to union president Stephano Greene.
In an interview with the Tribune, Mr Greene claimed Mr Miller and the corporation refuse to pay over 100 workers money owed to them since the implementation of the rostering system more than three months ago.
He said: “The corporation has a right to say no overtime, that is fine. Mr Miller is bragging about how much money he saved slashing overtime but he isn’t saying how much money he still owes union members. There has been a drastic cut in overtime, but he has mandated a roster and is not paying employees according to our contract, which means he is violating it. He is refusing to pay. So we intend to sue Leslie Miller and the corporation.
“We have been in discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister and we are waiting to meet with the Prime Minister. You cannot have your Executive Chairman violating contracts and not doing anything about it. If we get an audience with Mr Christie this week, we can possibly put an end to this. We have had roasters for almost four months so you are talking about over 100 employees and tens of thousands of dollars. We have met with the management of BEC and they said they have been instructed by Mr Miller not to pay. Even though I can confirm that the Deputy Prime Minister, who has responsibility for BEC, said they must pay. So I don’t know if he is Leslie’s boss or if Leslie is his boss.
“We already filed in court we just haven’t gotten a date yet but we are suing Mr Miller and the BEC for breach of contract. We just want what is owed to us. After we meet with the Prime Minister, we will sit down with our lawyers and they will instruct us whether or not to withdraw the suit.”
Mr Greene also said the union is not paying any of their pension or insurance plans unless the corporation offers something to offset their loss.
He said: “The union negotiated for that benefit so unless they give us something else we will not pay anything. Mr Miller shoots off his mouth without sitting down and discussing things with us. If you leave it up to him, he would take everything from us because he believes we shouldn’t have anything.”
Last Friday, Mr Miller said the corporation has saved $5.89 million in overtime cost since July 2013. He said he hopes the number reaches six million by the end of October - which will represent half of what BEC paid to employees in overtime during the year before.
He also said before the end of the year, BEC employees will have to contribute to their medical insurance and pension plans.
Comments
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 7 months ago
Audience with Mr Christie? Why is everybody jumping straight to the PM if they don't get what they want? Is this really how people are trained to handle industrial relations? And why does he encourage it? Where is the team that he should have thoughtfully assembled to help him carry the load? Political parties need to start getting serious about the people they put forward, if all they look for is a guy who has a fancy suit, when they win power that is exactly what they will have, a bunch of guys in suits with nothing to offer and one or two persons have to carry the load of 20 men. Which never seems to work somehow...eventually someone gets "tired" and everything goes to hell pretty quickly.
john33xyz 10 years, 7 months ago
You are correct. Part of the problem is that there really is no political party. The local party members do not get to put forward candidates for election - they only get to say "yes, sir" to the central committee.
The other part of the problem is that people vote for them as long as they get their rally food and drink every five years.
During the last election 92% of voters voted either PLP or FNM. To me, that means that 92% of the public is generally happy with the way things have been running the last 30 years (during which both parties have had turns in office). By keeping at D average in the schools, the party elites ensure that the next generation of voters are stupid enough to vote for them as well.
I would say that if they are able to garner 92% of the vote - God bless them!! The people are getting what they WANT. That is democracy. If people want to eat pig feet instead of filet mignon - the parties will give it to them happily and keep the filet mignon for themselves and their families who live well and attend foreign universities and whose kids have the good sense not to return here to work.
The ignorant remain here and wait for the next five years when they can have a great time at another RALLY.
banker 10 years, 7 months ago
Co-sign. This is a really cogent and accurate response. The people are getting their just dues. I recall the three days of free booze at the PLP headquarters in Elizabeth Estates before the election.
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