The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

The chief justice has ordered members of both Water and Sewerage Corporation unions to return to work until there is a full Supreme Court hearing on their industrial dispute next Monday.

Brian Moree QC granted a temporary injunction on Friday that effectively suspends all strike and other forms of industrial action for a week following several days of rising tensions and animosity between the Bahamas Utilities, Services and Allied Workers Union (BUSAWU) and Water and Sewerage Management Union (WSMU) on one side, and the corporation's management and board on the other.

Adrian Gibson, the corporation's executive chairman, said in a social media posting that the interim injunction granted by Chief Justice Moree prohibits both unions, their offices and members from participating in any industrial action. It also required the unions to instruct their members to return to work

Wayne Munroe QC, who is representing the BUSAWU union, told Tribune Business outside the Supreme Court: "The Water and Sewerage Corporation lawyers had an ex-parte injunction, which meant a one-sided injunction. The chief justice, in line with what is the new practice, indicated that the courts won't generally hear you one-sided, so they were required to call us.

"So the chief justice heard the matter and, in accordance with Section 83, he granted an injunction until February 24. That means that the union will return to work now, the members will return to work now and, on February 24, we will make a case that he should discharge the injunction and that the strike can continue. It is a temporary measure that he determined in the circumstances he will grant it until he can hear both sides on February 24."

Dwayne Woods, the BUSAWU president, told Tribune Business: "I could safely say that we stayed our course and we are sticking to our guns because we believe in justice for all.

"The corporation came to the Supreme Court seeking an ex-parte injunction, and they didn't get the ex-parte injunction. They had to call us in, and our side had to be heard. For that reason, I would like to say that that alone is a victory because it wasn't a one-sided injunction.

"The judge, in all of his wisdom, was able to see that both sides must be heard so he didn't grant a final injunction. He granted a temporary one, which gives us the right to be heard, and then we come back on February 24," Mr Woods continued.

"Then we come back on that date. I am confident that the victory will be the victory for the people, and a victory for one is a victory for all. If need be, we will have to issue the strike certificate once again, but we beg the most honourable prime minister to intervene and do the honourable thing before we have to resort back to the strike certificate."