The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

TRADE UNION Congress president Obie Ferguson has taken legal steps to cause delayed negotiations on an industrial agreement for the Grand Lucayan Resort to begin immediately through a general dispute process.

Mr Ferguson, who claims that management has been dragging its feet for the past two years over negotiations with the union for a new labour agreement, went to court yesterday to get the negotiation process moving.

“A general dispute process has now been invoked,” he said. “We asked the Minister (of Labour) to do what is required, and he has spoken to the Registrar of Trade Unions and the Director to do what is necessary.” Mr Ferguson noted that Section 56 of the Industrial Relations Act provides a mechanism for the resolution of a general dispute dealing with the creation of new terms.

Mr Ferguson explained that a panel of three – one each from the union, the employer and the tribunal – will be engaged in the general dispute process.  

“We would deal with the matter at that panel with a view of having it disposed of. Having a strike is not our objective, all we want is a reasonable proposal with reasonable terms having regard for what this economy can afford at this time,” he said.

Michelle Dorsette, president of the Commonwealth Union of Hotel Services and Allied Workers Union, represents the 500 workers at the Grand Lucayan. The union falls under the TUC.

Mr Ferguson and Ms Dorsett met management last month. During that time, he reported that business has been good for a while at the resort, which had been running at 100 per cent occupancy. He also noted that there were plans for expansions.

“I had a meeting with the manager, Ben Davis, and I am not very pleased with the speed with which he is moving toward resolution of the industrial agreement in that hotel. And so we have taken steps to have some things done immediately as early as today to ensure that he moves – he can’t hold an agreement up for two, three years.

“Let’s sit intelligently and resolve this within a reasonable period of time, but he is dragging his feet hoping that members will lose interest in the union,” Mr Ferguson said.

“All efforts are now in place to have those negotiations begin forthwith and completed within a reasonable period of time. We have given him benefit of the doubt by giving him time; we can’t take two years to negotiate.”

Mr Ferguson said workers in the country are suffering and struggling. He said that employers, especially in Grand Bahama, are engaging in hiring contract or casual workers so that they do have pay for vacation leave, sick leave and maternity leave.

He stressed that the commissioning of workers have not been properly structured or incorporated in the Employment Act. Speaking on the Freeport Container Port, where many are also employed as casual workers, Mr Ferguson said it is “criminal” that workers there are unable to be unionised.

“How can you tell Bahamian workers at the container port that they cannot be a part of a union when Section 24 (1) of the Constitution of the Bahamas says every Bahamian has a right to be an FNM,  PLP, DNA, and join any union or organisation of their choice?” he asked.

Mr Ferguson was pleased that the workers in Grand Bahama have decided to have one unified march on Labour Day. “This is a big day for us – unity is strength. I am pleased that workers will march in Eight Mile Rock and then onto Bahamas Public Services Union Hall.”

He commended the BUT, CEWU, Grand Bahama Taxicab Union, Bahamas Hotel Managerial Association and the Customs and Immigration Union for their decision to be united.