Industrial Action Today At Government Quarry
The Ministry of Public Works confirmed that approximately 75% of the workforce at the Government Quarry have taken industrial action today [June 12] in support of a colleague who had been suspended for the unauthorized use of a Government vehicle
A Ministry spokesperson said, “The Ministry had previously circulated an internal memorandum to the workforce at the Quarry in March 2013 which stated that the use of Government vehicles was for the “express purpose of doing Bermuda Government business only”.
“The Ministry cannot condone the unauthorized use of Government vehicles and is particularly concerned that such an action could result in a lack of insurance cover had an incident taken place.
“The Ministry initially proposed to suspend the worker for three weeks but after the initiation of a grievance process on Tuesday, June 11th, the Ministry took into consideration the employee’s good record and reduced the suspension to one week.
“Despite the grievance process already having commenced, workers downed tools first thing on Wednesday morning in support of their colleague violating the grievance procedure laid out in the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) collective bargaining agreement.
“The Ministry does not accept this action as it is not in accordance with the proper grievance procedure and requests that all workers return to work and allow the proper process to be followed”.
Unfortunately people outside the process think that both the BIU and the employer are expected to follow the CBA. It is however historically proven that the employer is always held to the letter of the argeement by the union but the BIU works feels that they can down tools and ignore the process when it suits them regardless of whether the BIU executive have cautioned against the action or not. The issue of disciplinary action is clearly outlined in the CBA however as people should be aware that depending on the severity of the infraction the discipline can be suspension right out ot the gate and not just a verbal warning as some might imply. Conversely the BIU should follow the CBA if they feel that the punishment is too severe, in that they have the option of filing a grievance with the employer. There within the process includes the use of a third party to assist in determining a resolution. However the problem we continue to face is that the Government continues to pay workers that down tools and stop work this has resulted in rewarding bad and inappropriate behaviour and has thus continued to escalate to the point that with impunity the BIU member feels that there is no consequence of his /her action to down tools outside of the grievance process. As long as bad behaviour is rewarded this will continue so the answer lies with the Government / employer since clearly the advantage of this behaviour is for the workers to continue what they have been doing because it works.
Well said!
That idiot Chris Furball holding Bda back again? Welcome to 1979 comrades!
Once you walk off the job, you no longer have a job to go back to.
And all those employees who walked off illegally, should now receive a warning on their record, and lose the days pay. The BIU can cover that cost.
Let them strike!
the biu wont give them a cent.
If they don’t carry placards, how can we tell when they are striking????
From Bernews (75%) and The Gazette (100 plus) it suggests there are over 150 workers at the quarry which seems like a lot.
Without knowing the full details a three week suspension might be harsh and if his colleagues balloted for strike action then I support their right to do so. By all accounts they walked off the job (despite grievance procedures commencing). Is this not a wildcat strike?
The CBA is there for both sides to adhere to but it doesn’t seem like the BIU are ever held to it. As a result, fewer people have any sympathy for the Union. A unions strength comes not only from its workers but also the support of the public. They are, in more ways than one, losing it!!
I agree 100% . I must say that because of the actions of the BIU during the “Furbert Years” by protecting Ferryboat Pilots, Bus Drivers and others that were under the influence or acted inappropriately over the years I have zero respect for them. Any individual or organization that will fight to ensure that I pilot or driver of a public that was under the influence keeps there job, allowing them to transport my children and family has lost my support at least until there is a change at the top. Bring back Ottie! He was firm but fair and would never protect the guilty.
I guess you are not old enough to remember the summer of 1981, & the day tourism died.
Don’t forget the table dancer (aka Freddie Wade) and the hotel bartender.
Let these clowns strike, who really cares and lets be honest their two hour a day work contribution to our society will hardly be missed, and well done to the person who decided to take action against the person abusing the government vehicle policy, these fools have been getting away with stupidness for years and Need to realize they under scrutiny like everyone else, maybe they should replace serco as weather forecasters because they can tell when it’s going to rain two hours before it does and are usually heading home by then!
Noooo…don’t let them strike!!!!!!!. They won’t get the garbage picked up on time! Oh wait, never mind, that hasn’t happened in my area in years, Garbage usually gets picked up a day or two late anyway! By that time the cats, dogs and chickens have ripped it apart.
We need a whistle blower website where we can all anonymously post pictures of GP cars being used to drop-off/pick-up kids from school, grocery shopping, trips to the golf course, beach etc.
Lets thin out the civil service by getting rid of the dead wood.
Send such pictures to the Minister and let him sort it out.
I agree. Use of GP vehicles outside of their permitted use needs to be enforced and penalized. It doesn’t matter who it is, rules should apply to all.
The use of ANY commercial vehicle used for anything other that its intend use is not permitted. For example, you can’t use your company van to drop off or pick up the company owner at the airport! However, do we really want to nit pick about every little thing? I agree we need to report the abuses NOT just the uses. If someone drops on their kids on the way to work, I’m okay with that. However, a GP vehicle used to take someone to the beach, church on the weekend or for any personal use – should be stopped!
If the driver has permission and pays toward the extra gas and maintenance I agree…
Let’s thin out the bigots by getting rid of you..let’s
We are all assuming that they actually had tools in their hands in the first place!!! In the private sector such a violation could be a dismissal so why cannot be done in the public sector.
B.I.U. workers go on strike because one of their own contradicts a written order to refrain from doing something and ……(GASP) the Union gets its panties pulled into a bunch and gets its workers to go out on a wildcat strike. So typical!
Shocked that Ms. Laverne hasn’t accused the O.B.A. of forcing the worker to contradict the written policy so that they could fire all of the workers at the government quarry.
WAIT FOR IT….it was all the O.B.A.’s FAULT.
I am certainly glad to hear the person suspended is a ‘Good Christian man’. That makes a big difference to me.
To me it means he DEFINITELY knew he was doing something dishonest. Absolutely no question.
Hiding behind God.
They should also look into the guy hat drives the white jeep with tinted windows,….. The one who drops his wife/girlfriend off at Bank of Butterfield a few mornings a week…. I realy love paying for his private transport!!
I agree with you not alone does he drop his wife to work in that white jeep with tinted windows, he also goes to church at St.Johns Church in Baileys Bay every Sunday morning
Liz, keep ya “a double s ” in England please !!!!
Dummy !!!
Not sure what you are getting at but have a nice day. I am not in England and not double anything.
It would appear that you are the dummy. sir.
Sooooo you are funny.
I know off some lady who using a gp car to pick her children fromcwhitney and Berkeley school and brings them home to Devonshire and all she is a office worker in tourism office I hope this is looked. At cause it not right these gp car are not for just offic worker use
Photos along with accompanying notes have been sent to various Ministers,showing persons abusing GP cars.
A few examples:
A blue Toyota driven by a PS with HER daughter being used to shop at a supermarket on middle road Warwick Friday afternoons between 4–430
A health dept nurse collecting a child from a nursery in Warwick daily between 3—30.
W&E vehicles parked outside our churches Sunday mornings.
A Minister with the previous Government,taking her family to Whale Bay every weekend during the summer for picnics.
No responses have been received so far!
The Minister was using a blue Toyota.
This has been happening for years, bad behaviour always gets rewarded down this quarry and once called out the chief shop steward is no better at resolving issues ….. he too needs to go!!! I have personally seen times where he initiates a sit-down. Something he knows he’s not supposed to do.
Many quarry/gov employees driving vehicles really have no legitimate use for them for government business. It’s been brought to Mgmt attention and again nothing has happened so yes this is a good move.
Be careful what you reward, you just get more of it…. good or bad. Too long employees have been running the operations of the quarry.
I’d like to see them crack down on other things that happen down here as well….. yes… get them all…. nothing but venom comes out of this quarry…. clean it up!!!
Does anyone know what the consequence is if an employee is caught using a company vehicle for personal use? If disciplinary action is that the employee will be suspended then it is what it is. If he/she knew what the consequence was and still did it then what is the problem? If my child knows that if he slams the door he’s going to have his Nintendo DS taken away from him and he continues to do it…GUESS WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN…the Nintendo is going to get taken away.
written in the cba are also the stages of punishment w&e skipped some
Strangely enough no input or comments from biu is mr furburt off island.