BIU to Government: You will not take away our rights
The Bermuda Industrial Union says it will resist any attempts by Government to curtail workers' rights through possible new legislation.
BIU President Chris Furbert addressed remarks made by the Premier on trade unions at the PLP's Annual Delegates Conference last week.
Mr. Furbert said: "It's interesting what the Premier was saying about extending legislation as regards teachers and transport.
"As a union we don't speak for the teachers, but we represent Marine and Ports and DPT (the Department of Public Transportation).
"The legislation regarding working class people in this country was written back then (1960s-1980s) to take away their rights.
"It was not fair back then so the question right now is — will any new legislation that will come be designed to take away the rights of our working class people?
"This union will not sit back and let the Government take away the rights of working people. It will not happen."
At the PLP conference, when asked about any possible legislative changes regarding labour relations, Premier Ewart Brown told The Royal Gazette: "The only legislation that would be contemplated that we haven't formally discussed, but I would personally think we should take a look at again, are essential services with a view to possibly expanding those."
Asked which professions could be added to the list of services which must give 21 days notice of a strike, Dr. Brown said: "Transportation and education."
In his opening speech to the Delegates, the Premier referred to recent disputes between Government and the unions — among them the Bermuda Public Services Union (BPSU) and the Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT).
Dr. Brown said: "Although protest and dissent are the hallmarks of a democratic society, you do not have to use the same manner of protest with a PLP Government that you used 30 years ago with a UBP Government.
"Let me say to Labour for all to hear: you have a voice that this PLP Government respects and welcomes. You have a listening ear that is always available to you. Before you down tools, let us talk.
"Teachers, before you decide not to come to school and leave parents and schoolchildren to fend for themselves on a given morning, please let us talk.
"Government civil servants, before you leave your work stations, know that with a PLP Government, you are more than your job or your profession, you are a neighbour, you are a relative, you are a friend – let us talk."
Dr. Brown said: "We invite our Labour leaders and sisters and brothers to use the family circle of the PLP and join us at Central Committee meetings, where you can advance your position before the Premier, Cabinet Members, and Parliamentarians and Senators, as well as your neighbours and your friends.
"We can imagine a time when we know that every effort to reach agreement has been exhausted and that strike is a last resort – not a first recourse."
Mr. Furbert however, denied the unions had opted for strikes as an initial course of action.
At a press conference yesterday, he said: "The Premier urged dialogue before resorting to strikes.
"Unions react to situations concerning their members, and do not act irresponsibly. I do not know of any union which goes on strike for any reason, before dialogue. So for him to imply that the unions would do this..."
"A meeting for an hour or two, to me that is not a strike — that is people wanting to get some issues resolved."
The BIU President did accept that some of Dr. Brown's comments could be seen as an 'olive branch' following a tumultuous year for labour relations.
"I do think the Premier has said he will sit down and talk to the unions," said Mr. Furbert. "We believe the dialogue with Government is good, but relationships break down because communications fall down.
"We still consider the PLP family, as a Labour Government. We are going to agree to disagree but hopefully we can sit down and work it out."
The BIU will next month hold its first Labour Summit since 1990, at the Fairmont Southampton from November 14-15. Mr. Furbert said this was "to discuss the future of the BIU" following a membership survey earlier this year.
"The theme is our vision for continued success," he said. "There are possibly hard times ahead.
"The fact that Government has axed various departments and cut their budgets, we are concerned about jobs and making sure people are gainfully employed.
"So there are things we need to work out — with Government and with private employers, as to how the US economy will affect us."