Dock workers agree to wage freeze

A new collective bargaining agreement has been reached between Stevedoring Services and Polaris Holding Company Limited.

Both groups held a joint press conference this afternoon to show a new way forward of unity.

Warren Jones, CEO of Polaris, said the port workers “are the lifeline of Bermuda” and once he became CEO he made sure he understood their needs.

I then heard many stories, all negative, about the dock workers - that they were a ‘hard crew’, that they would stop work at the drop of a hat and that they were unreliable and inconsistent.

I certainly can’t speak for anyone else’s experience, but what I found was a group of individuals who are clearly expert at what they do, take pride in their work and look out for one another to ensure that every person returns safely to their families at the end of each workday.

The staff that I have come to know understand that this country depends on them, even if the country doesn’t know it.”

Mr Jones added they are “the unsung heroes of Bermuda”.

He said the negotiation process was marked “by frank exchanges, honesty and transparency on both sides of the table. As a result, I think we came to an agreement that helps Stevedoring Services to weather this difficult economic period but also ensures that the staff remains in a position to meet their personal financial commitments.

“While some aspects of the new Agreement are confidential to the parties, I can share that staff will receive a 1.7% increase in wages for the 2013/2014 previous fiscal year. This is in line with the Consumer Price Index for that fiscal year.

“Additionally, we have agreed to a wage freeze for the present 2014/2015 fiscal year, and this will be reviewed at the conclusion of the fiscal year.”

He said this concession “ allows us to consider wages based on the realities of our financial situation at that time, as opposed to agreeing possible wage increases based on a projection that may bear little resemblance to any actual increase or decrease in cargo volume”.

He said one goal that was achieved, that signals positive change, was that as of July 1, “Stevedoring Services will be open through the lunch hour providing over the road (OTR) services. Presently, and for many years, our hours of operation have been 8am ­ noon and 1pm­ 4:30pm meaning that there was no service through the lunch hour.”

Bermuda Industrial Union president Chris Furbert added: “We certainly agree that the recent negotiations marked frank exchanges, honesty and transparency on both sides of the table.

“At the annual shareholders’ meeting of The Polaris Holding Company Limited around June 2013 a new board was elected. The new board chaired by Mrs Cheryl Hayward Chew began immediately working on the relationship between the Port Workers Division of the BIU and Stevedoring Services Limited because the previous Board of Directors and management team led by Mr. Peter Aldrich had a different agenda. There was a lot of tension in the relationship between the parties that needed to be fixed.”

Mr Furbert said the last six to nine has seen “a big improvement in the relationship between the employer and the union. Once Mr Jones started in January 2014 he continued to build on that foundation. Today I believe both parties can say they are quite pleased with the relationship.”

He said just one of the concessions the Port Workers Division have made is double time for time and a half from Monday to Thursday. Mr Furbert said: ““This will be in effect until March 31, 2015. All overtime for double time has been in the Collective Agreement since 1987 so as you can see this is a big concession that the Union has given up for the next nine months to assist the employer.

“In closing I would like to thank the Management Team for the manner in which these negotiations have been conducted.”

Good afternoon, thank you Bermuda Industrial Union President Mr. Chris Furbert for hosting this press conference.

According to the International Maritime Organisation, over 90 percent of world trade is hauled by ship. For Bermuda, that percentage is probably closer to 98 percent and these gentlemen here today, and 35 others back at the job, the Dock Workers as we call them, are the lifeline of Bermuda.

Prior to six months ago, I did not give the Hamilton Docks a thought. I drove past them and never considered their importance to the sustainability of our Island.

Once I accepted the job as CEO, I then heard many stories, all negative, about the dock workers - that they were a ‘hard crew’, that they would stop work at the drop of a hat and that they were unreliable and inconsistent.

I certainly can’t speak for anyone else’s experience, but what I found was a group of individuals who are clearly expert at what they do, take pride in their work and look out for one another to ensure that every person returns safely to their families at the end of each workday.

The staff that I have come to know understand that this country depends on them, even if the country doesn’t know it.

As a result, I am pleased to publicly acknowledge them today. They are among the unsung heroes of Bermuda.

When we began these recent negotiations, I advised the union team that it is management’s goal that Stevedoring Services become the model for what labour relations can be in Bermuda.

This recent negotiation process was marked by frank exchanges, honesty and transparency on both sides of the table. As a result, I think we came to an agreement that helps Stevedoring Services to weather this difficult economic period but also ensures that the staff remains in a position to meet their personal financial commitments.

While some aspects of the new Agreement are confidential to the parties, I can share that staff will receive a 1.7% increase in wages for the 2013/2014 previous fiscal year. This is in line with the Consumer Price Index for that fiscal year.

Additionally, we have agreed to a wage freeze for the present 2014/2015 fiscal year, and this will be reviewed at the conclusion of the fiscal year.

This concession allows us to consider wages based on the realities of our financial situation at that time, as opposed to agreeing possible wage increases based on a projection that may bear little resemblance to any actual increase or decrease in cargo volume.

Secondly, we on the management team expressed our desire to achieve one change in the regular operation of Stevedoring Services that would signal to our external customers that we are in the midst of positive change.

I am pleased to announce to shipping agents, truckers and importers that effective 1st July, Stevedoring Services will be open through the lunch hour providing Over the Road (OTR) services. Presently, and for many years, our hours of operation have been 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. meaning that there was no service through the lunch hour.

However, from the 1st of July, we will be providing OTR service throughout the day. It is our aim to provide safe, efficient and timely delivery of goods to the store shelves. We look forward to providing a seamless delivery service to the truckers who frequent the Docks on importers’ behalf.

Before I pass this over to Mr. Furbert, I must thank the members of the PortWorkers Division of the BIU and the members of the Management team for the manner in which these negotiations took place. While I was not party to previous meetings between management and the union, it is my understanding that those meetings were sometimes quite stormy.

During this negotiation, the Port Workers have taken a risk and are trusting that I will honour the Agreement we have reached. They have provided me with an opportunity to change their view of management. We have discussed Management’s expectations of staff and the Union, on their behalf, has discussed staff expectations of Management.  As a result, we have found that we have many of the same goals.

I am looking forward to moving forward in a new and positive relationship with the staff of Stevedoring Services Limited and honouring the trust they have placed in this Management Team.

I will now pass this over to Mr. Furbert and look forward to taking your questions following his comments.

Statement by Chris Furbert

On behalf of the Port Workers Division of the Bermuda Industrial Union, please allow me to echo some of the remarks made by Mr. Jones the CEO of the Polaris Holding Company Limited (Stevedoring Services Ltd.).

We certainly agree that the recent negotiations marked frank exchanges, honesty and transparency on both sides of the table.

At the annual shareholders’ meeting of The Polaris Holding Company Limited around June 2013 a new board was elected. The new board chaired by Mrs. Cheryl Hayward Chew began immediately working on the relationship between the Port Workers Division of the BIU and Stevedoring Services Limited because the previous Board of Directors and management team led by Mr. Peter Aldrich had a different agenda. There was a lot of tension in the relationship between the parties that needed to be fixed.

Over the last six to nine months there has been a big improvement in the relationship between the Employer and the Union. Once Mr. Jones started in January 2014 he continued to build on that foundation. Today I believe both parties can say they are quite pleased with the relationship.

The Port Workers Division of the BIU have made a few concessions for this current agreement.  One that I can highlight is the concession of Double Time for time and a half from Monday to Thursday. This will be in effect until March 31st 2015. All overtime for double time has been in the Collective Agreement since 1987 so as you can see this is a big concession that the Union  has given up for the next nine months to assist the Employer.

In closing I would like to thank the Management Team for the manner in which these negotiations have been conducted.