Premier meets with BTUC

In an ongoing effort to ensure the lines of communication are open between the Government and the Island’s unions, the Premier and Minister of National Security, the Hon. Michael H. Dunkley, JP, MP, convened a meeting yesterday (June 23) with members of Bermuda Trade Union Congress (BTUC).

The public will be aware that the BTUC is made up of representatives from all the Island’s unions.

A number of discussion points were on yesterday’s agenda, chief among them being the importance of fostering good industrial relations between the unions and the Government.

Other areas touched on included the recent announcement regarding the 10 percent grocery store scheme, public service reform, the MOU which Government and the BTUC entered into last year which saw the introduction of a furlough day and a 4.6 percent pay reduction for public servants, Government’s confirmed commitment to public education, and the need to ensure that Bermudians were given priority in the workplace.

Premier Dunkley said, “Yesterday’s meeting was very timely and one of the things I stressed to the members of the BTUC was that Government is here to listen to their concerns.

“This Government recognises that Bermudians continue to struggle in this economic climate, and this was a key discussion point for all of us today. For my part, I pledged that Government was committed to looking at all of their concerns and doing all it can to try and ease the burdens that Bermudians are facing. At the same time, I challenged them as an organization to work with us in a spirit of partnership to find common ground solutions that will benefit their workers and the people of Bermuda overall.”