We will not be trampled upon

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24: Union chief Chris Furbert has warned employers not to use the recession as an excuse to trample on the rights of workers.

He said the Bermuda Industrial Union was well aware of Bermuda’s economic troubles and had compromised on hours and overtime on numerous occasions.

He insisted strikes, like the one which grounded public buses last week, were a “last resort”.

But he said the union would not shy away from industrial action if its members were treated unfairly.

Asked if now was the wrong time to strike, he said: “Is there ever a good time to have industrial action?

“If people say, you shouldn’t go on strike in the middle of a recession then employers can just go out and treat you how they like.”

Speaking after a month of industrial strife which has seen labour disputes involving bus drivers, dock workers, city garbage collectors and prison officers, Mr Furbert accepted that times were tense.

But he said the BIU could not take the blame if labour disputes spiralled.

“It shouldn’t have to take industrial action to get somebody’s attention.

“It shouldn’t come to that stage where we have to do that. With the bus situation nobody could say we weren’t trying to resolve that — it’s been out there since June 27.”

The case of bus driver Jennifer Harvey, sacked for failing to take a drug test in the wake of an accident, will go to an independent arbitration panel, following last week’s action.

Prison officers — not affiliated with the BIU — have withdrawn their plans for industrial action.

But disputes rumble on the docks and at the Corporation of Hamilton, where workers have put in 21-days notice of a strike.

The city workers are planning action in support of garbage collector Michael Pond who was fired after being convicted of slapping a teenaged girl who had verbally abused him and insulted his mother.

Mr Furbert said he hoped the situation could be resolved at the negotiating table before the 21 day notice — required in industries essential to public welfare — was up.

Despite the BIU’s reputation, Mr Furbert insists the union seeks to negotiate first.

And he pointed to a series of deals that had been struck during the recession as evidence that the BIU was co-operating with employers.

“We’ve done that with HWP, we’ve done it at the airport with BAS. We’ve agreed to shorter working weeks.

“We’ve had the hotels on a wage freeze, we have 1,200 Government staff working overtime for straight time rates. We’re doing all these things.”

He believes Stevedoring Services is asking too much in its proposals to cut working hours of staff on the docks. He said the proposal could mean three-days less work every two weeks for the dockers.

But he said cutting working hours was a potential solution for firms looking to reduce overheads.

“When it comes to redundancies we have to sit down and talk. The Union is here to represent its members. That may mean going to a shorter work week but that is a conversation we have to have with management.”

He said the Union accepted that Bermuda was struggling but urged firms to cut hours rather than jobs.

“Cutting hours is the best way to do it right now.

“If you need to cut costs by ten per cent then a four-and-a-half day working week will get you there.”

But he said no decisions should be taken without the Union being involved. And he insisted the BIU wanted to see the company’s books before it approved any reduction in hours or pay.

“We are not just going to accept it. But if everyone comes to the table and you show us your financials then we will compromise.”

He said the Union would stand by its members – even when they made mistakes — like in the case of the garbage collector.

“People make mistakes in life, none of us are perfect. You think if somebody makes a mistake they need to be fired and go find another job?

“The Employment Act speaks to workers rights when it comes to progressive discipline – you can’t jump straight to someone being fired.”

He added: “Management has rights, those rights are still there. But union rights don’t exist because it is a recession? Why should that be?”