Take a day off... unpaid

Government plans to cut a day off the working month to save cash are to be debated by the island’s unions.

And today white collar union BPSU, which represents many civil servants, will discuss the Government’s proposals at a meeting in Hamilton.

BPSU president Kevin Grant declined to discuss the terms of Government’s package of cuts, which are also understood to be looking at cutting salaries by more than the five per cent originally proposed by the last PLP Government.

Mr Grant said: “All the trades union leaders are concerned about the confidentiality of these negotiations.”

He added: “We are putting some options on the table that hopefully will allow Government to save some money — I think they are very creative and I hope people accept them.”

The blue collar BIU yesterday held a mass meeting to discuss Government’s proposals — but president Chris Furbert had not responded to requests for comment by press time.

Mr Grant, however, said: “We will all get together after all the meetings have been taken place.”

He added: “We are in some sensitive times — people have been saying Government workers have not been sharing in the sacrifice — but we are willing to share in that sacrifice. Our members are saying they want to work for the betterment of this country.”

But he took a swing at comments critical of the civil service made by Brian Duperreault, chairman of the SAGE Commission, set up to look at ways to cut the cost of government.

Mr Duperreault said the civil service was a “lumbering organization with cumbersome bureaucracy” where initiative was not encouraged or rewarded, while staff who failed to work hard were not called to account.

He added that the chances of a civil servant being dismissed for misconduct were “slim to none” and offenders were let off with “a slap on the wrist”.

Mr Grant said: “The remarks weren’t nice at all — I’m pretty sure our members didn’t appreciate them and I’m pretty sure he would get a lot of different opinions on how the civil service is run.”

He added a meeting with the SAGE Commission had been due to be held last week, but had to be cancelled, but said it
would be rearranged as soon as possible.

Mr Grant said: “We want to sit down with them to make sure our voices are heard and let them know that we want them to wait until a complete review is carried out before they make comments like that.”

And he added: “I really hope the recommendations they make are a due reflection of this open dialogue they are having.

“We don’t want a smokescreen of interviewing people and having these discussions and at the end of the day their mind is already made up.

“Everybody around here is pointing the finger as to who should be bailing the boat out.

“But everybody needs to pick up a bucket and bail out the country.”

Caines attacks timing of BIU meeting

A top businessman yesterday warned that disruption to public transport services could wreck tourism and international business.

Wayne Caines, the CEO of telecoms firm Digicel and member of the board of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, said: “I am concerned that we — all of us — do not understand that our way of life is under threat.

“There are other jurisdictions that have their knives and forks ready to eat our dumplings as it relates to tourism and international business.”

Mr Caines opened fire in a Facebook post after BIU members yesterday morning downed tools — meaning buses and ferries were off for three hours until lunchtime while workers discussed Government proposals, including one to axe a day from the working month to save cash.

Mr Caines said: “This is concerning to me because we are at the zenith of our tourism season. We have thousands of tourists on island which include a cruise ship berthed in Dockyard and a number of guests who have arrived by plane.”

And he asked: “How can we fight so hard to secure visitors to our island then allow meetings to be scheduled during a key period that will see buses and ferries cease to operate, leaving limited available transport for our guests. It makes no sense.”

Mr Caines added: “I am a labour man, I was raised in a family that supports labour, but something has to give. I am sure the question will be posed ‘Caines, when are they supposed to have the meeting ?’ 

“That is not the right question to be asked and it is not my question to answer. The right question should be, how to maximize the opportunity today and give our tourists, our bread and butter, the best opportunity to enjoy our lovely island home?”

The Bermuda Sun yesterday sought comment from BIU president Chris Furbert, but he had not responded by press time.

Mr Caines’ Facebook post added: “Also, whilst I am ranting, it would be nice to have my trash collected on a regular basis, I am not sure what the reasons are for the irregular pick up but the whole debacle makes no sense.”