NASSAU, BAHAMAS- The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement with its union partners after the heads of the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU) and the Bahamas Communications and Public Managers Union (BCPMU) met with Prime Minister Philip Davis this week and raised a range of concerns about management practices, staff terminations, and working conditions.
In a statement, BTC acknowledged that it is aware of the recent statements made by the heads of the BCPOU and BCPMU unions regarding employee related matters.
“While acknowledging and respecting the unions’ right to advocate on behalf of their members, BTC encourages continued dialogue through the appropriate and established industrial relations channels. The company remains committed to engaging constructively with our union partners and other stakeholders,” the company said.
It added: “As a company, BTC believes that collaborative engagement is essential to resolving matters holistically. Our focus continues to be on ensuring a safe, respectful, and productive work environment for all employees – and we will continue to work with our union partners to ensure that all viewpoints are articulated and considered.”
Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU) Sherry Benjamin and Bahamas Communications and Public Managers Union (BCPMU) President Kenny Knowles, recently met with Prime Minister Davis to address the recent terminations of five BTC staff – which have all been upheld on appeal – as well as the working conditions employees are allegedly having to endure.
The union heads described the discussions as positive, noting that the Prime Minister was receptive to their concerns and pledged to engage with BTC’s executive team and its international owners to address the issues raised.
The unions also reiterated concerns about the company’s management approach, outsourcing, and operational decisions, saying they remain hopeful that the government’s involvement will lead to improvements in employee relations and overall company performance.
