Dept of Parks Workers: Day Two of Strike

Workers from the Department of Parks are in day two of their strike, which Bernews understands is in both protest of lack of overtime pay, as well as in support of fellow employees whom they consider to be unfairly disciplined.

We were informed that workers were expected to work the three days of the Agricultural Exhibition for time in lieu, versus being paid overtime. This was a point of contention for a number of reasons including; lack of overtime pay recently, the sheer volume of work required over the three days of the exhibition, and the fact that the Exhibition charges entry and the workers feel that monies gained through gate entry could be used to pay them.

We were told that workers are not happy that they are expected to accept lack of pay, when it seems that the Government is spending vastly in other areas.

We were informed that in a meeting of Parks Department workers and senior management including Minister Glenn Blakeney there was some dispute involving an exchange between two workers and Minister Blakeney.

The workers have also apparently taken umbrage with the lack of BIU union representative in the meeting.

As far as we understand, Parks Management issued a disciplinary punishment to each of the two men. At least one man was issued a ‘Stage 2′ warning, which we were told by workers that in their opinion seemed too severe for the scenario.

Workers we spoke with at Parks feel that the questions put to the Minister were proper questions asked in a correct manner, but were not properly answered.

Parks employees are currently being represented by BIU official and are going through the normal grievance procedure when a matter goes past the point where a worksite’s shop steward can handle it.

If not resolved over the weekend, the dispute may continue into Monday.

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