2/8/2008 11:00:00 AM Revealed: There's no booze policy for ferry pilots Gov’t. says it’s on its way; meanwhile, union accused of dragging its feet on the issue
Meredith Ebbin
Government has never put in place a drug and alcohol policy at Marine and Ports Department - even though ferry pilots have ultimate responsibility for the lives of passengers they transport every day.
This was the startling revelation that emerged yesterday in the aftermath of the dispute between Government and the Bermuda Industrial Union over sacked ferry pilot Dwayne Pearman.
And it's in stark contrast to what takes place at the Public Transportation Department, where a drug policy hammered about 10 years ago requires bus drivers to submit to random drug and alcohol testing.
Yesterday, a spokesman for the Tourism and Transport Ministry confirmed the absence of a policy at Marine and Ports.
The spokesman said the policy was "in the developmental stages, with the intention of implementing it in the New Year. That is still the goal and it is expected that the policy will be introduced soon."
Also confirmed was the existence of a "comprehensive drug and alcohol policy" at PTB.
It calls for random drug tests every month, as well as automatic testing following an accident.
If a PTB employee tests positive, he or she is referred to the Employee Assistance Programme. A subsequent positive test will result in the employee being fired.
Government sources, who did not want to be identified, are taking issue with claims made earlier this week by BIU president Chris Furbert that the union had been working with Marine and Ports on a policy.
BIU's role under scrutiny
Our sources attribute the lack of a policy to the BIU dragging its heels.
BIU president Chris Furbert declined to return phone calls from the Bermuda Sun yesterday.
But a source in the business community also attributed Government's capitulation this week to the BIU's demands that Mr. Pearman be put in another job to past practice. The source alleged that on at least two occasions a bus driver and a ferry pilot were reassigned to different jobs after they failed drug tests, although Government said in response, there was no record of a Marine and Ports employee being found guilty in a court of law or having a blood alcohol level that was twice the legal limit.
The dispute over Mr. Pearman began when he crashed the ferry into a dock and was subsequently found to be twice over the legal limit for alcohol.
He pleaded guilty in Magistrates Court to piloting the boat while under the influence of alcohol and was sacked.
The BIU conceded Mr. Pearman stood to lose his pilot's licence, but said he should not have to lose employment altogether.
Government talked tough, but Premier Dr. Ewart Brown eventually backed down when the BIU upped the ante, first with a work to rule, then with threat of a strike by bus drivers and ferry pilots on Thursday.
On Monday, Mr. Pearman will to attend a hearing of a board that will investigate whether he should lose his pilot's licence.
What do you think? Who's at fault in this matter? E-mail editor Tony McWilliam;
tmcwilliam@bermudasun.bm
Reader Comments
Posted: Sunday, November 16, 2008
Comment by:
Noel Pearman
If Mr. Pearman was found to be under the influence of alcohol while acting in his capacity as ferry pilot, he should be dismissed immediately. The Government should have appropriate laws in support of this possition.
Posted: Monday, February 11, 2008
Comment by:
James Simmons
Its been at least 13 years since I worked at Marine & Ports. When I was an employee there was talk of implementing a drug and alcohol testing policy. How is it that after all this time one has still not been put in place? How many more times are Government and businesses in general going to back away from the bullying tactics of the BIU? Does an employer ever really have a say in how its own business is run when the BIU is representing the employees? This is just another example of Bermuda not moving forward and improving itself. I didn't vote for this type of decision, right is right and wrong is wrong. This was a wrong decision.
Posted: Monday, February 11, 2008
Comment by:
TonyB
NO POLICY RE: ALCOHOL ??
The public should be outraged.
What we have is an out of control government, with an out of control union and a out of control "drunk" ferry pilot....and then we have Senator Thaao Dill maniplulating or feeding the sheep with propaganda on the PLP mind bending radio station HOTT 107.5
What can I say the lunatics run the asylum and the sheep are getting crazier!!
Posted: Saturday, February 09, 2008
Comment by:
Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr.
Surely, Bermuda is advanced enough that a specific drug and alcohol policy should not be necessary to justify the firing of a ferry pilot (public transportation driver) who is found to have been intoxicated at the wheel. I believe the position of the BIU is an ignorant one and clearly not one that is in the best interest of public transportation safety. If Mr. Pearmans actions had resulted in serious injury or death of a passenger would the position of the BIU have been what it is now?
