The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

AS workers prepare to celebrate Labour Day next month, trade union leaders in Grand Bahama are drawing attention to a number of pressing issues, including the lack of unionisation of container port workers.

Yesterday, trade unionists from the two major umbrella organisations, the National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas (NCTUB) and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Trade Union Congress (CBTUC), announced that they will unite during the third annual Randol Fawkes Labour Day celebrations in Grand Bahama.

On June 5, the NCTUB affiliated unions will start the Labour Day march at 8.30am in Eight Mile Rock and go to Lover’s Beach and CBTUC unions will continue the march in Freeport at 11.30am to the Bahamas Public Service Union Hall. This will allow workers to participate in both marches.

Kirk Russell, president of the Bahamas Hotel Managerial Association, said there are many serious labour issues affecting workers in Grand Bahama – the outsourcing of permanent jobs to casual labour, health and safety issues in the workplace, the issue facing taxi drivers at the harbour and the ongoing struggle of workers at Freeport Container Port (FCP) to be unionised. Mr Russell believes that container port workers are being denied their fundamental right of freedom of association and claims the ongoing efforts of workers to form a union are being intentionally blocked.

He stressed that container port workers work in one of the most hazardous industries in the country. Many of the workers there are employed as casual and temporary workers, with no benefits or insurance coverage, and feel that they are underpaid. “It is a really a sad day … whether it is the company, successive governments, persons in civil society or whoever is responsible for retarding that process and not facilitating those workers to organise themselves,” he said.

He urged unions in the country to lobby on behalf of FCP workers by writing to parliamentarians, government officials and the Prime Minister and insist that they ensure that the company facilitates the rights of workers to organise themselves and join a union of their choice.

Quinton LaRoda, Bahamas Union of Teachers area vice president, said container port workers are being treated unfairly. “It is imperative that the container port workers get the justice they deserve. What offends me most as a Bahamian is that the way they are being treated is so unnecessary,” he said. He added that providing workers with some benefits, insurance coverage and a secure work environment would not significantly affect the company’s profits. “There is no need or reason to treat Bahamians like that. The labour leaders here will not stop. This fight is just starting and the workers at the container port will have their union. It is unconstitutional, unfair and unjust, and we will stand strong with them and let the powers that be know that we will see this fight to the end,” he said.

Leslie Lightborne, president of CEWU, encouraged container port workers to stand united. “The key things are knowledge and solidarity. We are willing to sit with the workers and assist them,” he said.

Mr Russell said that they are also concerned about outsourcing of jobs in the private and public sectors. “We call on government to cease and desist from this practice because it sends a wrong message to the private sector, which is using it to reduce benefits and salary of workers and for busting unions,” he claimed.

He also called on government to enforce the law pertaining to taxi drivers and tour operators at the harbour. “How can they sit around the table of Cabinet and in the halls of Parliament to address crime when a crime is taking place against over 400 taxi drivers in GB, where the statute law of this country is being abused by one side, while the other side is not being given what they are legally entitled to,” he said.