The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL and 

RICARDO WELLS

NEGOTIATIONS between the government and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) came to a screeching halt yesterday after officials learned that some unions were still withholding their labour as part of a national strike that began on Wednesday.

However, TUC president Obie Ferguson confirmed that strike action had been abandoned and directives given to all union members to return to work.

According to Director of Labour Robert Farquharson union representatives and government officials held discussions following assurances from Labour Minister Shane Gibson that he was willing to discuss their grievances.

However, sources close to the negotiations said that while a number of the TUC’s concerns had been resolved, once it was realised some union members were still striking it was agreed that negotiations would resume today at 9am.

Mr Farquharson said that some members of the Nurses Union - and others which he did not mention - did not go back to work at the time of yesterday’s meeting.

Mr Ferguson was tight-lipped about the details of the four-hour discussions, but said he was “optimistic” a resolution would be found.

“I can tell you that during our discussions there was a general consensus that we would not disclose publicly what was discussed,” Mr Ferguson said. “There is a willingness on both sides to reach a resolution on the issues that started the strike and we are optimistic. The workers have been mandated to return to their stations after consultation with presidents of respective unions.

“I have assured the minister of this and our unions remain open to all discussions with a view to complete resolution.”

On Thursday, Mr Ferguson, who leads 20 unions, filed an application in the Supreme Court requesting that the injunction filed by the government on Wednesday be lifted immediately.

He claimed that the union was not allowed to argue their side of the issues in court. He added that what the government made was an “ex parte application”, meaning that the government went to court without the union.

“We were not notified. We became aware when they made an announcement on the news, but I did not have it in my hands until later that afternoon,” Mr Ferguson explained.

Among the TUC’s concerns is the fact that the Labour Minister does not have the statutory power to refer a general dispute.

Workers from the Customs and Immigration Departments as well as the Nurses Union took part in a strike in New Providence, Grand Bahama and some Family Islands on Wednesday.

The injunction filed on behalf of the government ordered members of the Bahamas Nurses Union, the Bahamas Customs and Immigration Allied Workers Union and the Bahamas Educators Managerial Union to abandon their action and return to work immediately or be considered in contempt of court.

The TUC strike has affected immigration and customs operations throughout the country, while some clinics in Nassau, Grand Bahama and some Family Islands remained without nurses who are still away from work.

It has not yet been made clear whether those who took part in the strike will face disciplinary action as government officials warned that industrial action was against the law.