BEC union call to fire Miller

BEC Chairman Leslie Miller

As of Tuesday, March 17, 2015

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

Mr Maynard also rejected Mr Miller’s claims that “improper maintenance and negligence by BEC workers” caused last weekend’s island-wide blackout. He insisted that a “fault occurred in the system”, causing a fire and the subsequent meltdown.

He said the government “will see” what will happen if it does not “get rid” of Mr Miller.

A fire at the Blue Hills Power Station caused the island-wide outage on Friday, which forced the company to conduct load-shedding exercises throughout the weekend. Mr Miller, on Sunday, blamed the problem on the management and staff who work at the Blue Hills Power Station.

He said the whole incident could have been avoided if “the machines were properly maintained and serviced”.

Responding to Mr Miller, Mr Maynard said the Tall Pines MP is a “jackass” who “has no clue what he is talking about.”

He said instead of blaming the employees, Mr Miller should thank the staff at BEC for working overtime to fix the issues.

“Before I even talk about that idiot, let me thank the Deputy Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis. Even while going through the loss of his mother (who died on Friday), he still took the time out to come down to the plant to find out what was happening and encourage the workers. Maybe Mr Miller should try doing that instead of running on all the time about things he obviously has no idea about,” Mr Maynard said.

“As for Leslie Miller, he is nothing but a jackass. He just loves to be disruptive but he has no clue what he is talking about. When it comes to electrical and mechanical engineers he does not know what he is talking about and just sounds dumb. He has no clue how a power station should be run and he should refrain from making statements. The meltdown had nothing to do with maintenance. A fault occurred in the system and that created a spark, which lit the fuel residue and caused the fire. These things happen, it was unfortunate but it has nothing to do with the workers. We were never given any instruction to clean any trenches like Mr Miller said. We couldn’t clean them anyway because there is a big concrete slab over it. The engines are old and they need to be replaced, we have been saying this for years. But Mr Miller just wants to blame us and make us look bad for his own motives.”

Mr Maynard said he understands that an announcement on the restructuring of BEC will happen “very soon”. He added that if the government does not stand with the union and fire Mr Miller, the union will not support the government during the reform process.

“We are drafting a letter from the union to the prime minister asking him to get rid of Mr Miller. We have had enough. We are not working with him anymore. They will see what will happen if they leave him with us. We are not co-operating with this transfer to the new company if Mr Miller is still in place.”

Mr Christie first announced plans to reform BEC in August 2013. The government is expected to select a single private sector “manager” for all of BEC’s operations. The process has dragged on for some time as the government had set an initial end of 2013 deadline to complete the deal.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Perry Christie said he has not made any announcements on BEC’s restructuring because he wants to be “absolutely sure” that any government decision made is in the best interest of the country.

He also insisted that he would move rapidly to bring a conclusion to the matter.

DreamerX 9 years, 1 month ago

I'm not sure about this. I mean Mr. Miller has been called many rude things and accused of many brutal behaviors, but from the non-official but trusted information that I have gleamed of BEC, he is not absurd in almost any of his dealings with the union. It may be easier to attack the BEWU when the nation is in economic issues and some can blame Miller for using the financial issues to attack BEC's comparably luxurious skilled worker benefits coupled with the companies structural failures.

But, ultimately, the union is doing it's job. Advances it's member issues beyond all else. And in this case, is one of the biggest problems in terms of cost, that BEC is facing.

John 9 years, 1 month ago

Every time Paul Maynard opens his mouth you tend to wonder what next is going to happen at BEC or when is someone. This corporation is in dire straits and the country cannot continue with unreliable and insufficient power supply. These men need to put aside their egos, stop the name calling and the blame game then put pen to paper and come up with a viable energy plan for this country. Paul Maynard must come to the realization that gone are the days when his union members can use BEC as a cash cow. Leave that for government

Romrok 9 years, 1 month ago

Look at that, a union threatening the people. It's an amazing thing. BEC gives us crap and everyone complains, but when you see them on the road, instead of cussing them, it's hey friend here is an amazing fish bribe, get my power on when you can. I would have thought after crap service, customer service hanging up on you, power outages that destroy our tourism, that BEC workers would be scared to wear they uniform in the streets for sake of trouble. But nope, they march around like they own the country. Fire them all, there are too many without work that would love to do it without a union to rip everyone off. Do these union fools realize they robbing they friends and family for dollars they don't deserve? Yup, and their friends and family should be angry about it.

TalRussell 9 years, 1 month ago

Comrades I would really like to know, if an Electrician Journeyman's salary and overtime rates are any higher/lower at BEC, than what is considered to be reasonable at many other power companies? How does BEC pay rates compare to Freeport Power?
Also what happens when you compare the percentage of total yearly overtime pay at BEC, to Freeport Power?

Competitive pay rates:
Going rate $31 Hour.
With up to $77 Hour Overtime

Both the Union and BEC have these figures and why not produce them?

realfreethinker 9 years, 1 month ago

The issues at BEC should rest squarely at the feet of government. The lousy engines at bec as been on going for years and until the political directorate makes a business decision nothing will change.

TalRussell 9 years, 1 month ago

Comrade Realfreethinker, are you aware that PM Christie, unlike Papa Hubert's regime, has but one cabinet minister for BEC? Oh yes, not only did Hubert have two power plants in operation at the same time up in Abaco, but also had not one but two Cabinet Ministers Earl and Phenton in charge of BEC. By the way those two power plants in Abaco, one old and one new, still Papa couldn't keep the lights on for Abacoians. And, get this. Even with two ministers in charge, the generators in Abaco, were actually were allowed to run "out of fuel."
No, I ain't making this up.

themessenger 9 years, 1 month ago

UNLESS the government immediately fires Bahamas Electricity Corporation Executive Chairman Leslie Miller, the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union will not support BEC’s restructuring process, BEWU President Paul Maynard said yesterday. How typical of both the man and the union, neither of whom give a rats ass for the public that pays their salaries so long as they get what they feel their entitled too. The BEWU has been creating havoc within BEC from King Hatchet was a lil boy and Mr.Maynards words and actions show that a leopard truly can change his spots. Is this the same Maynard that had the crap beat out of him by BEC union strike breakers a few years ago while responding to overhead lines being sabotaged? Christie dithers while BEC burns and so long as Maynard and Co don't get their way the its the highway to hell for the rest of us and any chance BEC being restructured by our lame duck government.

duppyVAT 9 years, 1 month ago

The government needs to liquidate BEC and get rid of the whole damn thing. .... and restart from scratch

ThisIsOurs 9 years, 1 month ago

Paul Maynard needs to resign. The problem with all of these unions is they believe in supporting their members in whatever they do. Stealing, insubordination, dereliction of duty, tardiness, WHATEVER

Tarzan 9 years, 1 month ago

How about we fire the union and fire the government along with. Anyone with even a modicum of common sense knows that the only solution to our problems with these infrastructure critical industries (read telecommunications and power generation) is to get the government 100% OUT!

The government by its very nature turns every agency it oversees into a political exercise which is totally inconsistent with efficient operation. Please give me one example of anything this or any other government operates efficiently.

There is no solution involving privatizing BEC and setting up true competition among private enterprises in the telecommunications field, that could be so bad, as not to be infinitely superior to what we have now with government involvement.

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