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Bahamas Trade Unions Stand Divided
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Unions Still Divided as Labour Day Approaches:
By TOSHEENA ROBINSON-BLAIR -
Nassau, Bahamas:




While nixing the idea that the country’s two umbrella unions would finally unite to stage one major Labour Day march, leaders affiliated with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) unveiled plans on Thursday for their annual Labour Day parade, which is expected to be held under the theme, "The struggle for unity continues. Then, now, forever."

As Labour Day approaches, the country’s largest trade union, the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union, continues to be embroiled in bitter infighting, and differences between the TUC and the National Congress of Trade Unions will apparently prevent them from joining forces on June 6 as originally planned.

According to TUC President Obie Ferguson, the lack of recognition for some trade unions in the country, the need for vacation and notice pay in the event a company goes bankrupt or relocates, and the enforcement of court judgments in workers’ favour are just a few of the "burning" issues the labour movement is grappling with at this time.

"People come to the Bahamas, they invest in the Bahamas with a shell company. As soon as the economy turns in a negative form for a very short period, they disappear," he said.

"The workers are left hanging all frustrated. Why? Because we as Bahamians – those of us who are responsible for when investors come in making sure certain security are in place – we fail to do that which is required.

"Then when the workers take to the streets they say the workers are trying to destroy the economy."

Calling it a very important day for workers of the Bahamas – unionized or not – Mr. Ferguson urged all workers to turn out to Windsor Park for the march that’s set to begin at 7:30am on June 6.

Roscoe Perpall, chairman of the TUC Labour Day Committee, expressed disappointment that plans to have a unified Labour Day parade fell through.

"I understand that there are some members in the NCTU that are significantly hurt that some matters that are being dealt with by the president of the TUC in his professional capacity as a lawyer have not been resolved at this point," said Mr. Perpall, president of the Air Traffic Controllers Union.

"They do not feel comfortable participating in the labour activities with the TUC with these items still outstanding."

Mr. Perpall said he remains hopeful that next year there would be one Labour Day parade.

The parade route on June 6 starts at Windsor Park on Wulff Road and ends on Arawak Cay where an afternoon celebration will be held.

When asked what advice he would give to unions like the hotel union that are engaged in infighting, Mr. Ferguson said they should not take their problems to the media as it "does not advance the cause of workers."

Rather, he suggested that unions bring their grievances to their governing, umbrella union and have the matter dealt with in-house.

May 23, 2008

May 23, 2008 | 7:25 PM Comments  0 comments

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