NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) said yesterday that management continues to work “in good faith” with the union representing the company’s line staff, as it expressed disappointment in the union’s decision to advise workers to “withdraw their enthusiasm.”
In a statement yesterday BPL said it has continued to work with BEWU in good faith.
“Many of the concerns tabled by the union have been dealt with in accordance with the law and the current industrial agreement that governs relations between us. The others are matters before the courts,” BPL said.
“BPL’s management is disappointed with the union’s decision to advise its employees to ‘withdraw their enthusiasm’ primarily as BPL and the BEWU are engaged in regular meetings to identify and address concerns. BPL’s management maintains that our response has and will remain above board and in the best interest of the company’s stakeholders including our employees and the customers we serve.”
BEWU president Kyle Wilson cited the company’s management refusing to work in good faith towards resolving numerous outstanding issues affecting the union in a memo to union members.
“Executive management is refusing to work in good faith to resolve numerous issues that are plaguing our union,” Wilson wrote.
“As a result of their unwillingness to correct/resolve any of the major issues that you face, we are now in a state of reduced enthusiasm. We will only work our regular scheduled hours.
“(No overtime/no working through lunch). It is imperative that members must hold the line until resolutions are achieved. Members stand ready as the clarion call is about to come at any moment.”
Wilson recently slammed BPL for failing to address the union’s concerns after the BEWU gave BPL’s management 30 days to sit and work with the union to address the outstanding issues. That period expired on Monday.
The union head previously noted that some of the issues the union seeks to resolve relate to what he described as a “dishonest and illegal contributory pension scheme,” which he said has never been a part of a registered industrial agreement.
Other concerns include what he described as a medical plan that is not in keeping with the registered Industrial Agreement; hazard pay for all technical workers; the removal of the new hire scale for all workers; cost of living remuneration per the industrial agreement, proper facilities, transportation and equipment for all family island operations immediately starting with Andros; explanation of the recently installed privately owned and operated gas turbine at the Balliou Hills power station; standardized monthly and quarterly meetings as well as the immediate reengagement of Monica Gaitor in accordance with the union’s industrial agreement.
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