The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Utilities Service and Allied Workers Union plans to hold a “mass demonstration” at the Water and Sewerage Corporation’s main office today against the corporation’s reported refusal to reinstate one of their members, BUSAWU President Dwayne Woods said yesterday.

Mr Woods told The Tribune yesterday that the corporation’s general manager was attempting to “minimise the influence of the representative trade union by implementing an exercise of labour downsizing” by refusing to reinstate a union member “despite written directives from the board’s chairman”.

He said the union would “use its greatest weapon” today to “send a clear message” to the general manager that the union would “like for him to get in line and do the right thing.”

Mr Woods also said the union was “at odds” with the corporation on several other industrial issues, including payment issues and the “discontinuation of the NIB sick pay and maternity benefit.”

“The union is at its wits end on these matters and we need them resolved, and so we are left to do what we have to do,” Mr Woods said. “These matters remain outstanding and we are at odds with the corporation on these items. So the union (will) leave no stone unturned (and) use its greatest weapon to have these matters resolved.”

According to Mr Woods, the affected employee has been off the job since August 5. He said BUSAWU officials subsequently approached management on the matter, and have spoken to management “consistently” regarding the employee’s reinstatement.

Mr Woods said a directive to reinstate the employee was issued on November 6, but he said the general manager still “insists that he and the board chairman still have discussions on these matters.”

Mr Woods also said management was responsible for the “outstanding” payments of “shift premium and holiday pay” to union members, the “inconsistent practice of probationary period” for two employees at the corporation, and the discontinuation of the NIB sick pay and maternity benefit.

“Once again the union is at odds with the Water and Sewerage Corporation on a number of industrial matters, namely the general manager is attempting to minimise the influence of the representative trade union by implementing an exercise of labour downsizing.

“(Today) on our lunch hour we will have a mass demonstration to send a clear message to the general manager that he is committing gross insubordination, and in lieu of the insubordination, we would like for him to get in line and do the right thing.”

When contacted for comment yesterday, WSC General Manager Glen Laville said he did not want to fight with the union in the media.

“I prefer to deal with any union issues directly with the union,” he told The Tribune. “I’m not inclined to deal with it in public or through public media. Not having any of the details as to what they are protesting about or what they claim, it’s hard to make a response.

“But as long as they don’t break the law or break the rules, policies or procedures of the corporation they are definitely free to do whatever they deem necessary.”

Mr Woods said the protest is set to take place during the employees’ lunch hour at the corporation’s main office on Thompson Boulevard, starting at noon.