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BIU threatens general meeting over sacked workers

Photo by Tamell SimonsLets work it out: BIU president Chris Furbert states the union case during a press conference at BIU headquarters regarding Renaissance Aviation.

Bermuda Industrial Union leaders are threatening to hold a general meeting of all members if a private company which sacked seven workers last week doesn’t reinstate them.BIU president Chris Furbert told a press conference this afternoon he couldn’t predict what action his members would decide on if Renaissance Aviation didn’t comply with several demands within 24 hours.The demands were drawn up at a special general council meeting of the BIU which took place at lunchtime today.Mr Furbert said those attending the hour-and-a-half long session were “very concerned about their brothers and their sisters in light of seven of them being fired”.He added: “They are requesting that as of today, giving 24 hours notice, that the seven dismissed workers need to be reinstated immediately without any loss of benefit.”He said another 12 or so workers made redundant in January should be given first refusal on any vacancies at the company.Repeating a claim he made on Friday that the airport services company, part-owned by local footballing legend Shaun Goater, was guilty of union-busting, he said the decision to get rid of all the workers after they tried to get union recognition “should speak for itself”.He said general council members were further demanding that Renaissance should sit down with the BIU over the next five days to discuss bargaining categories for its unionised workers.Mr Furbert revealed Renaissance made an offer today, through Bermuda Employers’ Council, to let the workers reapply for their jobs. But he said that would result in a loss of benefits for them and wasn’t good enough.Renaissance has vehemently denied claims it sacked the seven workers last week because they tried to get organised.The company said the staff members were terminated because they refused to agree to a necessary ten percent pay cut; a pay cut the union advised its members to accept.Asked about today’s union demands, Martin Law, from the Employers’ Council, said: “I have no comment to make on that right now.” It wasn’t possible to reach anyone at Renaissance Aviation.