BTC employees stage sickout; Union boss claims it was food poisoning

BTC employees stage sickout; Union boss claims it was food poisoning

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Hundreds of Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) workers called in sick on Thursday, forcing the closure of 12 retail outlets nationwide.

In an interview with Eyewitness News Online, Bahamas Communication and Public Officers Union (BCPOU) president Dino Rolle confirmed that around 90 per cent of BTC workers called in sick. However, he maintained that the employees got food poisoning at a potluck hosted by the union on Wednesday night.

“I don’t know what happened to my member, but everyone got sick after we had a social last night (Wednesday),” Rolle claimed.

“I think it was because we put the meat and the seafood on the same grill, so it may be cross-contamination,” he said.

“In Nassau, we had one grill and we sent that same meat to the islands and they are really sick and it will likely take them a couple days to get better.”

Meanwhile, Rolle said the union still has outstanding issues with the corporation, specifically BTC’s’ alleged failure to entertain good faith talks on a new industrial deal.

“We are governed by people across the board, who do not understand the benefits we enjoyed over the years and they want them to take them away. Under no circumstances will I as president allow that to happen, that will not happen under my watch.”

In a statement released yesterday, BTC said it remains committed to providing a connected entertainment experience nationwide.