Government cannot make guarantees over redundancies and price freezes, Premier Paula Cox said yesterday.Ms Cox said that “the way forward is not punctuated with marches, but with an understanding of our reality and an articulation of the best practices that benefit all Bermudians”.Her statement came in reply to Tuesday’s demonstration by Bermuda Public Services Unions (BPSU) members.About 600 civil servants marched on Cabinet to call for Government to impose price controls on essential services, and make a pledge not to cut jobs.However, the Premier said: “The Union is fully aware that Government cannot include a guarantee of no redundancies in an agreement. That would make this a negotiable item each year.“The same practice would be held in relation to price controls. We are an island of consumers and so positioned as ‘price-takers’. Unthinking decisions could bring unintended consequences, such as an interruption in our supply lines. While such pronouncements by the Union make great sound bites, words like productivity, collaboration and honest broker are real measures of the public and private sectors working in unison.“As stated in the Budget Brief, Government will use its powers of enquiry available under the Price Commission Act 1974 to ensure consumers are protected from unwarranted price increases. It is my charge and my challenge is to ensure that all citizens of Bermuda are able to weather the current fiscal storm with as little discomfort as possible. I do so, not by having one or the other carry the weight, but by having us all share some of the responsibility.”The Premier also told Union members she had “genuine interest in the concerns expressed on their behalf by the leadership”.Ms Cox said it had been agreed that Government would meet more regularly with Unions, to ensure that members were kept informed.“However, of paramount importance, to me, is the fiscal stability of Bermuda and Bermudians,” she said.“The Unions will act in the interest of their members and that is to be respected. However, while I seriously take those matters into account, I must act in the interest of all of Bermuda.“The Government has addressed fiscal prudence doing more with less and job considerations retaining jobs without the necessity for redundancies. Jobs preservation and steps taken to minimise job loss is key and to be supported with greater productivity and efficiency.“These are decisions that move the country forward during economic hardships; considered decisions and positive actions to build economic stability that will maintain the country’s standing in the long term.”BPSU president Kevin Grant and general secretary Ed Ball last night issued a joint statement, saying that much of what was contained in the Premier’s statement had already been shared with Union members at Tuesday’s pre-march talk.They also responded to Ms Cox’s statement that she had asked the Union to hold the march a day earlier. The Union said the BPSU’s administration would have had to vote before changing the set date, and that Tuesday had already been settled upon for logistical reasons, because of Easter weekend.They continued: “We have stated in late 2010 and early 2011, prior to the April 26 march, that it would be difficult for the island to have mass redundancies in any sector as Bermuda does not have any unemployment insurance and displaced workers would be dependent on Financial Assistance. As we have seen recently, there are new Financial Assistance stipulations in place due to a lack of funds to support unemployed workers and households. If anything, this Union commented several months ago that the Government, like other global governments are challenged to find solutions to the downturn to their economies.”The BPSU said: “We repeat, the plea to Bermuda is simple. How can we as a people employers, workers and unions, citizens and Government pool our talents and resources to turn Bermuda’s economy around so that we see a financial resurgence of our economy?”Mr Ball and Mr Grant then noted that on May 17 and 18, Barbados will host a Tripartite Caribbean Symposium with the International Labour Organisation. They said the issue was “not a political, a union or employer tug-of-war.“It’s a plea to all Bermudians who love our island home to work together to improve efficiency and productivity.”