Hundreds march over government pay dispute

About 800 Bermuda Public Service Union (BPSU) members marched in protest against Premier Paula Cox’s refusal to cut ministers pay while imposing a pay freeze on them.

Led by BPSU president Kevin Grant, who called for government to partner with the union, the protestors chanted, “we want our voices heard” and “solidarity forever”.

They marched from the BPSU headquarters on the corner of Angle Street and Cedar Avenue down to the Cabinet Grounds on Front Street.

Ms Cox was not on the island and had asked members to postpone the march until her return next month but the membership refused.

BPSU vice president Jason Hayward said: “The Premier wants to say wait until I come back.

“Well we can do it now and we will do it again when you come back, Ms Premier.

 “The fact that government now says postpone the march, it’s almost telling people to postpone our frustrations, postpone our voice.

“It’s a slap in the face. If the people don’t speak up, who’s going to speak up? If the workers don’t speak up, who will?

‘The decisions they are making are affecting the workers.

“Until things get better in Bermuda, we will continuously speak up and continuously demonstrate.”

Acting Premier Michael Scott met Mr Grant outside Cabinet along with ministers Wayne Perinchief, Kim Wilson and Patrice Minors.

Mr Grant said the reason for a march was a “breakdown in communication”.

Speaking to Mr Scott, he said: “While we appreciate the need for responsible budgeting and spending, we can’t lose sight of increasing costs associated with the basic Bermuda households’ needs.

“If the goal is to do more with less, then Government needs to partner with Bermuda’s unions.”

Mr Scott accepted a letter on behalf of Ms Cox and said: “Judging from the content of your letter, your representatives very much sound as if you are in the mind to continue negotiations with the Government.

“The Government remains in position to act in good faith.”

Before the march, Mr Grant said to the members: “When I took on this role, I took an oath that said that I must represent the membership to the fullest extent.

“We find ourselves here today, not because we want to be adversarial, but because there’s been a breakdown in communication.”

Mr Grant said before the budget speech his team tried to get information from government to bring back to the membership but it did not happen.

Speaking of the pay cuts, Mr Grant said: “It’s alright for this membership to ask that ministers take a pay cut. It’s alright for these questions to be asked.”

Ed Ball Jr, general secretary for the union said: “This is not a political march. It’s advocating for workers.

“I will not compromise my principles, even if it means we are at loggerheads with people.”

The members then marched back to the BPSU headquarters where Mr Grant thanked them all for participating.

‘This is only the beginning. It’s time for work right now. That’s how we are going to get this country back together.