Furbert Returned For Third Term As BIU Head
The Bermuda Industrial Union [BIU] held its internal elections recently, with BIU President Chris Furbert returning for a third term.
A spokesperson said, “After a very successful 4th Quadrennial Delegates Conference held on March 13 and 14, 2014, Brother Chris Furbert was returned unopposed for a third term at the helm of the Bermuda Industrial Union.
“Other Executive Officers who were returned unopposed were Brother Glenn Simmons, 1st Vice President [former 2nd Vice President], Sister Molly Burgess, General Secretary, Brother George Scott, Chief Organiser, Brother Graham Nesbitt, Assistant General Secretary, and Sister Ronaldine Burgess, Recording Secretary.
“Elections were held for the positions of 2nd Vice President, Research Officer and Education Officer. Brother Louis Somner was elected as 2nd Vice President, Brother Arnold Smith was elected as Research Officer, and members voted overwhelmingly to have Brother Collin Simmons back as Education Officer.
“Sister Renee Jones ran unopposed for the position of Treasurer, becoming the first woman to hold the position of BIU Treasurer.
“BIU President Brother Chris Furbert extended thanks to Brother Calvin Smith and Brother Cecil Durham who retired from their positions as Research Officer and Treasurer.
“The six special delegates voted in were Tanya Darrell, Tomeiko Simons, Chris Belboda, Patrick Hayward, Raymond Tucker, and Kedoe Arorash. The special delegates will form part of the BIU’s General Council.”
Who was defeated?
Bermuda
Typical cowards, afraid of strong leadership.
LMFAO
The BIU membership shall get what they deserve.
Love him or loathe him, he serves a purpose and I for one am appreciative of him. Without unions under strong leadership, workers would be treated like crap because employers know they would get away with it. My grandmother tells me some awful stories of the days before the unions came in, and workers had no rights whatsoever.
For example, she worked as a chambermaid in a hotel. Each had a floor to clean-and this was before they had vacuums so floors (carpets) had to be swept. If a maid called in sick, she would not be paid. Another maid such as my grandma would have to do her floor AND the other maid’s floor, no matter how long it took-AT NO EXTRA PAY! So even though the hotel would dock the other maid’s pay, they wouldn’t pay the other maid any extra even though she had to work overtime to cover someone else’s work! My grandma would sometimes end up short because when she then had to work late, she’d have to find someone to babysit my mom and she would have to pay that person-even though she herself wasn’t earning any extra money for working late!
Her employer would get away with this because guess what? If you uttered one word of complaint, you could be fired right on the spot-no such thing as a written warning, notice or anything of the type.
My grandma is 80 years old so this stuff happened to many people still with us and they remember it well. Thank God for the unions because they put a stop to this nonsense. They pushed for the benefits that most of us take for granted-even many of you on here moaning about them. You wouldn’t have things like paid vacations, sick leave (yes, some people abuse it but we ALL need it), redundancy packets and the like. You never know when you’ll need the unions to come to your aid and the only ones who complain are a certain segment of our population and you know who you are. If you could treat us the way you did 50 years ago, you would and you would feel no way about it whatsoever, now would you. I’ll even go a step further and say that if you really had your way you’d go back 150 years when you’d have all the free labour you wanted and wouldn’t have to give us one single thing but agony.
Yes, I said it.
If someone crashes a bus and refuses to take a breath test.
Who is that union protecting and who is it putting in danger?
as she said, some ppl abuse it
Agreed. You say what a lot of us already know.
Sounds very similar to elections in Cuba or North Korea??? Whenever you hear about elections in Countries or Organizations that candidates run un opposed, that should be your FIRST clue that things are being done in an unethical way!!!!
whenever non white people are running elections there needs to be some oversight. IF there is not oversight then it is suspect….same old…B.S. from the racist man! move on!
Huh, wow how insulting…why you trying to play race card?
Kangoocar implied it !!!
Can you re read my post, and point out were I ever mentioned race?? I swear Bermudians will go out of there way to find race and bring it into a conversation!!
No what he’s saying is when situations involve Black People there has to be some sort of negativity in it and the same situations involve White People it’s a different perspective, nothing to do with the race card it’s the conditioning of our social mentality.
It took a couple of centuries to buy into it, it may take longer to erase it.
You’re absolutely right.
There is a double standard at work here.
You put it very well. Thank you for this post.
Where’s Mike Hind when ya need him to ask for evidence?
Look down this thread. You’ll see.
Look Furburt is bad news, but your comment is way off the mark. Leave that bs in the 50s mate.
I get such a laugh reading some of these comments. Although the rabid racist tries to couch their language in a non-offensive way, a five year old could read between the lines.
I’ve always said racism and stupidity go hand in hand. And no one has proven me wrong yet!
kangoocar because people run un opposed it could me that they are doing a good job this is not cuba or north korea you should get your self some help
That is so untrue. And ridiculous. Like the man or not, it benefits no one to cast aspersions on a whole organization.
“Whenever you hear about elections in Countries or Organizations that candidates run un opposed, that should be your FIRST clue that things are being done in an unethical way!!!!”
That is an incredibly untrue statement!
Hey Kangacar, guess you better say same about the OBA as both Cannonier and Dunkley were unopposed last time!
http://bernews.com/2013/10/oba-no-challenges-to-cannonier-or-dunkley/
@LMAO
You beat me to it. I want to see how Kangoocar replies.
*tree frogs*
There is a huge difference between a political party that just was voted in by the majority of the voters of Bermuda and decided to keep the same team in their positions!! Compare that to a union that keeps the same players in their positions election after election, and I think a blind man can see the difference!!
You have got to be kidding me.
Come on. I know you’re looking for ways to denounce, but you gotta do better than this.
Running unopposed isn’t a signal of something shady. This just makes you look petty.
And foolish.
@kangaroo car—you mean like the ubp did for many years? or how the one percent aligarcy have been ruling these past six hundred years?you mean how people have been forced into a colorable society against their freewill of an informed choice for hundreds of years now and the reason they are un opposed is because they keep the masses ignorant!? is that the kinda thing you refer to mr.angaroocar? or the fact that the masses or kept under control through food, music, fraternities, religion, ect…and the main Rulers of this earth are called “Sleeping Giants” but treated worse than animals? hmm?or are you having a “karma” attack!
have u ever been to cuba?…if nt then dont talk BS.. I moved there from Bermuda in 2003 and I LOVE IT!
Any socialist minded person would love Cuba, enjoy it!!
@ Kangoocar – I think you mentioning or comparing this particular BIU election to what they do in Cuba or North Korea is a bit much.
The problem in many cases no body wants else comes forward ti do specific Jobs in the Union because they simply
involve to much out of yor life. – Comparing the BIU to Cuba were comments I heard a lot in the 70′ and 80′s .
The same way many people of Bermuda could well see this election acording to your feelings towards the BIU – there are Large
percentage of the population that see the BIU fighting against the Wicked return of the 40 thieves,or the KKK.- so
its already a two sided affair.— so with all this hatred from the past were do you think were headed in the Future!
Will he get the overdue financial statements out now?
What overdue financial statements? By the way, he is not the treasurer, he is the President.
I thought, as President, the buck stopped with him. Or is that supposed to be a literal interpretation at the BIU?
For Government, doesn’t the Minister of Finance have the responsibility to produce the budget and report Government’s financial position. Also for most major corporation that remit fall under the Chief Financial Officer. Why would it be any different at the BIU. Or is it because the BIU is a mostly black organization the you believe that they should fall under a different set of rules. If you are that concern about the report of the financial, become a member and ask the question why it hasn’t been done. I’m certain that the people who attended the above-mentioned conference were told about the financial.
I can recall that in 2011 financials for the years 2002-2009 were made public. But I can’t recall anything since.
There aren’t any financials on the BIU website, for example.
But put me straight Laverne. Let us know if the 2009-2013 financials have been made public.
And of course Furbert is responsible. As you said, he’s the president of the place. It’s his ultimate responsibility to make sure the financials are filed.
Suzie, i would suggest that you find yourself at the Registrar General’s office tomorrow, pay your $5.00 and see for yourself. It’s not that you are concerned, you just want to cast aspersions on the organisation and the President.
No reply from Laverne will be forthcoming until she is back at “work” tomorrow.
My friend, that information is available to members and members only. It would not be published on BIU website
Quite. Hey Laverne, most well run organizations are filing 2013. BIU are incompetent. They haven’t filed in 4 years, just cost this country a whole load of trouble.
Are there any other organizations in Bermuda that haven’t made financials public up to date or is this the typical witch hunt that’s personal, just asking.
I believe the poster is referring to the 10+ years that the BIU was behind on their financials.
How about the unqualified ones?
Why do you always post foolishness and hatred? Try posting some substance for a change.
Why would I expect some intelligent comments?
Indeed, these posters Ottiwell know better…
Laverne. Go fishing
How were votes cast? Ballot? Show of hands? What percent of members voted?
It’s just like any social club, political party, yacht club, etc. majority rules, part of the Democratic process.
The democratic vote and lack of vote can take different forms, as you well know. Any information relating to the questions?
Not quite. A Trade Union is regulated by the Trade Union Act. It is not a private club that can do as it wants.
Surprised there was not an island-wide shut down for the voting.
such immature sarcasm,, haha,, There you go,, you got the laugh you wanted, infact here is another one,, haha,, Need More??
G’wan Impressive. Give us another.
It would have been if Fahy would’ve tabled de Labor Relations Amendment Act.
LMFAO
No need to table that act now.
Well at least it explains all the hoohaha going on recently… had to make himself relevant again in order to be reelected.
Can we all look on the bright side of this–Mr. Furbert knows the issues of the day–and in his way is working through “issues” between the GVT and the Union.
Let’s just hope the Union continues to dialogue with the Gvt and that we get to a point that there are no circumstances that cause industrial action so that an excellent experience for our visitors during the upcoming season is possible.
Mr. Furbert–you and the Union are stakeholders and share responsibility too for the good and the bad that happens to Island.
Let’s all get serious and fix Bermuda!
A very mature, impartial and positive post,, well done
Agreed. Well said.
Well said
Very well put – it would do a world of good if we could all mature from Anglo style confrontation to Scandinavian style consensus in many spheres, especially labour relations, political dialog, education, etc.
Figures…
Is this a good or bad thing for bermuda?
Please stop the wild strikes and follow the law on all sides while working together.
If some managers stop using heavy handed tactics without regard for consultation then there would be no wild strikes, the C.B.A. is law to workers and some managers don’t follow that, just because it’s law is a poor excuse, Aparthied was law was it wrong to go against it?
…and there’s the problem. It’s not LAW. It’s an agreement – a contract which is subject to law. The CBA is not, in and of itself, a LAW.
why am I reminded of Korea.
What should remind you of Korea is when the leader of your country refuses to go on Sherrie J and Gary ?Morino to answer tough questions and shuts down interviews.
LMFAO
Sherri J is hardly an impartial journalist.
is that you comrade Rhonda!
There needs to be a educated young blood,who knows how the world works in this global economy,if there has to be a union.
Well um glad it’s not you cause we’ll all be in deep s–t !!!!!!!!!!
Best wishes to you all . Glad to see the best form of democracy still going strong !
Ah correction lets hope Govt. continues to dialogue with the Union.
His running unopposed means one of two things.
Either they’re happy with his work, or no one else wants the job.
I’m not going to presume which the case might be.
Actually, it means 100% of those that voted, voted for the only candidate that came forward. There is no way of knowing if those that were not present, or did not vote, are happy with his performance.
We know what the message of the stay at home voter was in the last general election.
What percentage of the membership cast a vote?
Exactly…nail on the head!
@JT…
You are correct, but what percentage actually voted is not publicly accessible. Why? the Union is NOT a publicly funded institution therefore, they are NOT required to be accountable to the public, but rather to their members.
It is only the members who have the right, as dues paying members, to demand transparency, accountability and can pressure the Union to open the process so that more than one person is put forward as a candidate for the position of president, it’s the members who can demand change.
Rather than sit back moaning and complaining, why not make a direct and honest challenge to the leadership within all Unions?
Have you ever asked yourselves why Unions are the exclusive domino of Black males in Bermuda? Why have not Portuguese Bermudians, English Bermudians, Filipino Bermudians and/or females made a challenge for leadership?
I have noted that some of the strongest organised cultural groups in Bermuda are the fairly newly arrived Filipinos. They have very strong work ethics, and are in predominately blue collars jobs, so why are they not being welcomed into the hierarchy of the Unions as current and/or future leaders?
Just like corporate Bermuda needs to have more Bermudians and females in senior executive position, so to do the Unions.
Bermuda needs to start moving towards being a melting pot of culturally diverse Bermudians flexible, able and willing to fill positions in all sectors of our economic span.
London, England
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW BIU EXECUTIVE & THE 6 NEW SPECIAL DELEGATES VOTED IN LAST WEEK. I will continue supporting & helping the BIU & Workers.
Mazumbo you distasteful Bas—–. Can’t you think of anything but race.
Why not let the BIU membership vote on whether we have gaming and legal weed on the Island? At least they can make a decision within our life time. I’ll bet the other islands to the south will do it all a long time before us and WE WILL LOSE OUT AGAIN.
you lot like licks, inna??!
If you want to play the race card let us all have a “LOOK” at “DETROIT” that is or was a city in the USA.
And it will tell you how close we were to DESTRUCTION a few years ago with the BIU/PLP.
Another rabid racist comment – which is even more ridiculous than Kangocaar’s.