By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Electrical Workers Union President Paul Maynard said the unions representing workers at the Bahamas Electricity Corporation will “go on strike” if Executive Chairman Leslie Miller refuses to honour an industrial contract the union has “already negotiated with the government”.
Yesterday, Mr Miller accused the union of trying to “bleed the government dry” adding that he would resign from parliament before he lets the union take advantage of the public corporation.
Speaking with The Tribune, Mr Maynard said Minister of Labour Shane Gibson and Minister of Works and Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis have both “signed off” on the new agreement.
Yet, he said, Mr Miller is attempting to “block the deal” by hiring a new human resources and labour relations subcommittee to review the proposed agreement.
According to an email obtained by The Tribune, sent to Mr Maynard from the executive chairman, Mr Miller requested a meeting with union executives Tuesday at noon to discuss the industrial contract.
In a follow up email, Mr Maynard told Mr Miller that he is not attending any meeting unless it is to “sign the new contract”.
Mr Maynard told The Tribune “if it is a war Mr Miller wants, it is a war he will get.”
“I sat down with two Cabinet ministers, a board member, two Bahamas government labour negotiators, the general manager and deputy general manager of BEC over the past three months and negotiated in good faith a six year – at the request of the government – industrial agreement. It was reviewed by the minister of labour and I informed him that I would have my membership ratify the agreement which they did,” he said.
“So please tell me why the hell I have to meet with Mr Miller? That is going backward, moving down the ladder. Mr Miller had an opportunity to sit in on the negotiations, but he refused. He told the press that he doesn’t meet with us, so I don’t have to meet with him. I am not reopening negotiations, a deal is a deal. As a matter of fact, I am meeting with my members today and Mr Miller will see just what we can’t do. Mr Miller may run BEC but he does not run the union I represent. As far as we are concerned Mr Miller is an enemy to the workers and all unions join me with this, Mr Miller is our enemy.”
Mr Maynard said if Mr Miller continues to interfere with the industrial contract, not only will his group strike, but so will the union representing line staff at BEC.
“They all stand with us on this, even the Christian Council and the Chamber of Commerce. This isn’t Mr Miller’s failed business on Harrold Road or his bowling alley, he cannot intimidate us. If he does not honour the contract, the union will go to the next level and strike,” he said.
“We finalised (it) about two weeks ago. He has a problem with everything. He doesn’t want us to have any benefits, nothing. It does not work like that,” he added.
When contacted by The Tribune Mr Miller said he would rather “resign” than sign a contract that is “not in the best interest of the people.”
He said: “Nothing has been finalised, they negotiated then they came to us for ratification. I am signing something that does not have rostering in it. That is a normal thing, that is standard but because they want to collect millions in overtime they don’t want it. You think I care if Maynard don’t come to the meeting? He represents 600 or so people, I represent 365,000 Bahamian people and they trying to bleed the government dry. It will not happen in my watch, I will resign from parliament first.”
Comments
ChaosObserver 9 years, 5 months ago
"a deal is a deal"....unknown in this country.....All unions and their people should just fade away, they aren't needed any more!
realfreethinker 9 years, 5 months ago
Good riddance Leslie and carry brave and perry with ya,better still carry the whole damn government with ya
observer2 9 years, 5 months ago
Perhaps the VAT collected on electric bills can go to pay the workers. We Ned the lights on for Christmas.
UserOne 9 years, 5 months ago
Please go on strike so Mr. Miller will resign.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 5 months ago
NO. Those greedy people cannot win. God knows what "demands" they've included in this contract they discussed with "Shane Gibson". For all we know, they've asked to both be paid by BEC and receive NIB contributions when they're sick, just like in the good ole' days, probably called it something else like "hardship allowance" or "sit on your butt and rob the country allowance"
John 9 years, 5 months ago
SO THEY STARTED TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AGAIN!!! AND YOUR LIGHT BILL IS ALWAYS HIGHER WHEN THEY DO THIS. THE BAHAMIAN CONSUMER IS BEING CHARGED THREE** TIMES WHAT THEY SHOULD BE CHARGED FOR ELECTRICITY AND CANNOT GET BARELY A MONTH OF UNINTERRUPTED POWER SUPPLY...CRY SHAME Bahamas!
expatkz 9 years, 5 months ago
Straight talk...... Miller does fight the advances of the union. Yes, the union does have much more than most Bahamians. But so what if they do... They are working class Bahamians and they spend there money earned right here in Bahamaland. The thing about unions is they do cost more, but if your did not have them then the corporate pigs and pocket lining officials would take all the money and the local economy would see little to none of it. And whats wrong with some Bahamians earned a great salary? Now what do we have in Mr. Miller. Well, he is BIG in a few ways..... Big Mouth, Big Ego, Big Kahunays, Big Foot-in Mouth disease, Big on Keep that Woman in her place or beat her bcuz "she "asked for it" ..... The facts are Mr. Millers dept causes all Bahamians suffering. He has had chances to make amends with the union and also to plan out and sway PLP brass and obtain the machinery and funding he needs to ensure the dept is better than when he assumed it. But he has not done this..... rather doesn't it seem way worse. He has talked the talked, but cannot walk the walk. Change is in the air Bahamaland..... carpe per diem!
joey 9 years, 5 months ago
The thing about this whole situation is the pot calling the cattle black. I say this because here is 1000 workers in the union holding the country back and here is this one chairman holding the country back with his million dollars non serviceable loans that he obtain through the peoples bank for his fail business ventures, and to go along with it his six figure light bill that he owes the same corporation that he heads while receiving a six figure salary .All of this going to the chairman who has one house to maintain while the1000 ordinary worker want something go to 1000 different homes, yet the chairman insist the ordinary workers don't give a darn about the Bahamian people ,but he does .
John 9 years, 5 months ago
Then there is Shell West and Franky Wilson overcharging the Bahamian people for fuel..and doing God knows what else to line his pockets...no way BEC should be in financial problems
asiseeit 9 years, 5 months ago
I think it is about time The Bahamian people go on strike!
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 5 months ago
I agree, blackout again. Tired of being hostage to greedy people bred and watered by theivin' politicians
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 5 months ago
Speaking with The Tribune, Mr Maynard said Minister of Labour Shane Gibson and Minister of Works and Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis have both “signed off” on the new agreement.
"Signed off"... A sign off is only as good as the quality of the review skills of the signor. Recall Shane Gibson is the man who analyzed NIB numbers and told us the govt generated 30,000 jobs in one year. As for Davis, he could be a magician as well, Kohlrautz estate, he probably signed documents then too.
duppyVAT 9 years, 5 months ago
Give all BEC workers presently under contract severance pay and send them home like Bahamar.......... the precedent has already been set.
Then start afresh with a new set of employees who are willing to work in the best interest of the country. The BEC millstone has to be broken from around the necks of Bahamians.
John 9 years, 5 months ago
It will be more like BTC, give them hefty severance packages, terminate them, then rehire them a few months later at even higher salaries.
duppyVAT 9 years, 5 months ago
Yep I forgot ............. sell BEC to the Chinese .... then let them fire the workers.
countryfirst 9 years, 5 months ago
BEC needs to be sold lets see the union ask their new owners for a raise.BEC staff should be given a pay cut,because their performance sucks the power can never be on for a full 24 hours.Go on strike we wont notice any difference.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 5 months ago
Yes. I REFUSE to blame Mr Miller for this. He has jumped into a barrel of apples that has been rotting for 40 years. He's just the first person to give us the inside scoop on how badly they stink. Every other politician has tripped all over themselves cow towing to the union's every whim and desire. Well, it's over. Dr Minnis DO NOT align yourself with terrorists. Our country cannot be held hostage every time they ask for an unwarranted pay increase. "We do not negotiate with terrorists", that's a really good policy to adopt. Now they mad because they want Christmas bonus? Didn't Mr Miller tell them last year, when he was forced to pay them a bonus, that the company was in no position to pay one this year? They had a year's notice, they could not have made any plans for the extra money, it's a shock to nobody that it can't be paid.
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