Two online petitions have been launched in opposition to the actions of the Bermuda Industrial Union.

Yesterday, more than 2,000 people signed the documents, which complained about the threat to derail the America’s Cup, numerous work stoppages and the blocking of Parliament on two occasions.

It came as union leaders Chris Furbert and Jason Hayward claimed that low attendance at the People’s Campaign meeting yesterday was because of efforts to divide the unions.

One petition, launched via www.change.org, titled “I do not support the actions of BIU president Chris Furbert on Rev Tweed’s work permit” and created through the Facebook page group Become the Vocal Majority, calls for a boycott of businesses that support the actions of the BIU, for union members to have Mr Furbert suspended and for action to be taken against the BIU’s methods.

It also tells the International Labour Organisation that Mr Furbert was using his position to “support a personal and political cause”.

Furbert and Hayward, the Bermuda Public Services Union president, have led the protests against the Department of Immigration’s refusal to renew the permit of the Reverend Nicholas Tweed, of St Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church.

On Tuesday, Mr Furbert threatened to derail the America’s Cup, which is projected to generate $350 million for Bermuda’s economy.

In the first nine hours since it was created, the petition had attracted 1,200 supporters. By press time, the number had swelled to 1,950.

It says: “I do not support the action of BIU president Chris Furbert in the matter of Rev Tweed’s work permit, and more to the point, I am willing to take action to show my disapproval.

“To the BIU, I will boycott all of your affiliated businesses and properties, as well as those businesses who support you. Chris Furbert’s actions and rhetoric on this matter are not in the best interests of Bermuda, and are actively harmful to us.

“To OBA and PLP politicians, if you do not come out against these actions by the BIU in this matter, you will not have my vote in the future.

“To the ILO, BIU president Chris Furbert is using his position as the local union president to support a personal and political cause which actively harms Bermuda and his members.

“This position was not supported by his membership either by quorum or majority, and is not supporting a union member. We call on you to take note of these actions by a rogue union leader and to consider the BIU’s validity in the future if they do not rein in their president’s unreasonable actions.”

There is also a note to say that the petition will be delivered to the BIU.

Another petition on www.change.org titled “Help Protect Our Democratic Rights”, through the Facebook group Bermudians Supporting the Democratic Process, attracted more than 100 supporters in its first five hours. Its support had risen to 455 by press time.

It says: “This petition serves as a platform to give Bermudians Who support Our Democratic rights a voice.

“We feel that our democratic rights are not being respected by the recent action taken by the unions. We, like everyone else in this country, should have a right to represent ourselves without our government services being withheld for seemingly politically motivated reasons, or the whims of a person’s agenda.

“We don’t disagree with the union as a whole, but how they are being utilised.

“Express your discontent with the manner in which the union conducts its actions by signing this petition. This is a peaceful way to send a clear-cut message that many Bermudians are not in agreement with the BIU’s methods.

“We owe a successful, cohesive Bermuda to each other and our children.”

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