BCPOU head alleges BTC offering top jobs to foreigners

BCPOU head alleges BTC offering top jobs to foreigners

Leads protest outside JFK headquarters

 

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – President of the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU), Dino Rolle, on Thursday alleged that the government has been offering top jobs at the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) to foreigners, and the move is gravely impacting the morale of employees.

Rolle described the employees’ most recent experiences at BTC as “eternal hell,” and yesterday, he led a protest with BTC employees at its headquarters on John F. Kennedy Drive to voice their concerns.

“…We have been damaged left, right and centre in this company,” Rolle alleged at yesterday’s protest. “We are in dread and concerned about our jobs. We have gathered to discuss our disgust with the way we have been treated here.”

According to Rolle, the union has asked the government why expats are still given work permits when there are qualified Bahamians to fill certain posts, but their concerns have fallen on deaf ears.

Rolle said because Bahamians are reportedly still being displaced at the company, the BCPOU and the BCPMU are prepared to do anything –  in the confines of the law – to get the attention of the government and  BTC’s management.

The union chief further alleged that BTC’s CEO, Gary Sinclair, had indicated to the staff that whatever the company’s plans are, the retail stores will be affected. But yesterday, Rolle said he wants the CEO to “come clean” and advise employees of how they really would be affected.

As it now stands, Rolle said the union is aware that BTC’s management has allegedly prepared a list of names to be “directed to the exit.”  But he said the union cannot sit idly if employees are dismissed.

Rolle said the union is considering taking a strike vote as a part of their strategy.