The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

There has been a pattern of behaviour that should disturb all of us. The dictatorial tendencies of the PLP are blatant, bold and brassy. Many are sad because the total disregard for human beings are evident, judging from the recent events.

The disregard for women was clearly displayed by the member for Tall Pines when he, jokingly or not, smothered battered women deep in their terrifying experiences by rehashing, blow by blow, how he beat his lover. How inhumane can you be?

The plight of workers and the fight for equality in the work place has been the mission of the unions since time immemorial.

Lest we forget, the PLP could never have been the government in 1967 had it not been for the support of Sir Randol Fawkes. But how soon we forget.

Labour has been instrumental in the forming of governments from that far back.

I must hasten to say that perceived or otherwise, Labour was also instrumental in the forming of this present government, especially since the former did not give the Customs and Immigration what they requested.

I think it is safe to say they were hoodwinked, bamboozled, lied to, run amuck and deceived that they would get what they wanted had they voted PLP. Of course, now they see otherwise.

Any Bahamian with half of a sense, or one eye could see that no one should take the unions lightly, or they do so at their own peril.

Fast-forward. The PLP is not playing with fire. They have reneged on an election promise of getting it right for the officers, and no less a person than Shane Gibson showed his power by bragging how he would cut their pay if they even showed up to work.

Are there some mixed signals? Can he legally do the things he says he would do, or was he just showing off?

This is a good time for unions to show exactly what they are made of. No worker should be taken advantage of, regardless of the positions they hold, be they hotel workers at Sandals, BEC workers, BPSU, BCPOU, Bus Drivers, Air Traffic Controllers or otherwise.

Unions must draw their lines in the sand, and send government a clear message.

Workers must feel that their rights are not trampled by and overzealous minister who wants to flex his muscles.

The unions altered history before and we are poised for new markers to be laid. If the union leaders are worth their salt, they must put the union above party affiliations and show “solidarity forever”.

IVOINE W INGRAHAM

Nassau,

March 23, 2014.