‘Industrial Action’ At One Communications

November 15, 2018

[Updated] After holding a meeting earlier today [Nov 15] at the BIU, some of the One Communications staff said they would be attending a meeting with the Minister of Labour as some “key employees were dismissed from the company.”

Mike Jones told Bernews, “There’s been some injustices in the last 12 to 18 months, that have led to a bunch of key employees being dismissed from the company, including myself today.

“And so the staff have decided to down tools, because they want to see some of these injustices sorted, and so we’re standing together, myself, one of the managers that was also dismissed, and the staff, to try to get an idea of what it is that can be done to right some of these wrongs.

Audio comment from Mr Jones

Mr Jones said the staff plan to meet with the Minister of Labour, where they planned to express their concerns, adding that “we will see where we go from there.”

Earlier today, prior to these comments, a One Communications spokesperson confirmed that a union meeting had been called, and we will update with any further information as able.

Update 6.00pm: A One spokesperson said, “One Communications confirms that industrial action has taken place regarding the release of a non-union manager. We are actively working with the parties involved to resolve matters as quickly as possible, with a view to minimizing any impact this may have on our customers.”

Update 7.37pm: A Government spokesperson said, “A Ministerial team led by the Minister responsible for Labour, Minister Foggo, and accompanied by the Minister responsible for Immigration, Minister Caines, today met with staff from One Communications to hear their concerns.

“Government’s role is to facilitate a dispute resolution and we will work with both parties to achieve that goal. Government is treating this with the urgency and sensitivity that such matters require and we will meet with all crucial parties as a matter of priority.”

Sign at the BIU earlier today:

IMG_7967

Staff in Hamilton this afternoon:

IMG_7969

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Comments (23)

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  1. sandgrownan says:

    The winter of discontent….

    • Black Soil says:

      Under the PLP, the economy will continue to shrink.

    • frank says:

      where is the tBIU ORGANIZER for ONE he or she should be the one making the statements as for Mr jones how did you not know when your contract was to end.
      as for the workers your dispute is not going to end like belco
      so don’t be fooled one is by far not essential service
      furthermore the workers need to be told the real truth about everyone that was let go

  2. David says:

    Saying though: The economy is slacking. Unlike 2017, no big events planned for 2018, 2019, etc. Wha ya wan dem do?

  3. aceboy says:

    They fired “key” employee huh? How is that even possible? Key to whom? Clearly not One.

    • Deborah says:

      Exactly, and that’s why I as a Bermudian and all other concerned Bermudians must unite and stand firm in our efforts to keep BERMUDIANS employed….enough is enough.. I’ve been around long enough to see what’s going on in this country! One Communication, like those other offshore majority owner companies, for one, need to UNDERSTAND and appreciate they operating in Bermuda; not the USA, Caribbean, or anywhere else! When one sees employees striking or downing tools, it’s for an unacceptable reason or various unacceptable reasons. And most times any firing going on, guess what, it usually is a Bermudian(s). Meanwhile all the guest worker managers/staff and shareholders sprinting down front street wiring their dollars overseas and we Bermudians struggling wondering where our next meal coming from! Hell no….enough is enough! Shrinking Economy… it should be shrinking.. the money leaving the Island in the millions!

      • sandgrownan says:

        Maybe if we weren’t a big bunch of entitled pricks it would be different huh?

        You have no idea. No clue.

  4. Hartigan says:

    Another foreign entity badly treating their local staff….when will this stop.

    • sandgrownan says:

      Simple economics. Not enough demand for goods and services. Go figure.

  5. wahoo says:

    Is this about a shrinking economy and downsizing again?

  6. Ignorant Minion says:

    What’s Onion Juice usually say 24-12?

    Sad to see these guys and girls let go, but not surprised.

    Burt and PLP have:

    Taxed Dividends to companies which means government is punishing a businessperson for making money. Defeats the whole purpose of being in business.

    Kept Import Duty at its highest levels ever. 25% -35% on almost all everyday items. A business person cant make money but the government think it is okay to take 25-35 % just because they can.

    Payroll Tax remains at its highest levels ever. business owners love the idea of government paying payroll tax knowing that the government pension program wont be around for most of them to get any of it back thru government pension.

    And now Burt plans (read the throne speech)to introduce his own form of income tax. He’s not calling it income tax, but that is exactly what it is. Like my mom used to say. If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, chances are its a duck!

    Add to that the at the last PLP gala event there were calls to seek independence. Businesses love instability and the thought of their money , investments, property and businesses being devaluated along with the dollar.

    Still surprised . Well there will be more to come. One of the banks will be announcing more layoffs coming soon due to shifting of departments overseas and outsourcing.

    Not sure what Premiere Burt plans to do if his big push for digital currency comes to fruition. Companies will finally be able to convert money into BitCoin and use it to pay a portion of staff salaries, bonuses, dividends and make purchases. What is the biggest benefit to crypto currency – YOU CANT TRACK IT. PLP Policies and attacks on businesses and certain sectors of this community are causing business to shut down, relocate AGAIN!

  7. Frank says:

    No one does a 6 months probation
    In 2015 when a woman with 12 years service a very good work record with no record of any disciplinary problems did a good job was made redundant nobody done nothing not even the BIU

  8. frank says:

    Nobody does probation for 6 months
    In 2015 when a woman with 12 year good service was made
    Redundant nobody did nothing for her not even the biu
    they had the notice from the company for 2 long months but did not tell her to this day the biu has done
    Nothing but that person at the biu is still employed

  9. Joe Bloggs says:

    “And so the staff have decided to down tools, because they want to see some of these injustices sorted, and so we’re standing together, myself, one of the managers that was also dismissed, and the staff, to try to get an idea of what it is that can be done to right some of these wrongs.”

    That’s easy, buy the company and run it the way you want it run.

  10. Fed Up says:

    Many companies hire hatchet men, managers who don’t know how things are done here and have no respect for the workers. This is the second go around for Mike. I was there for the first one when CV first started up at Mills Creek. They wanted to pay us installers by the installation not by the hour that meant if it was bad weather and we couldn’t work we wouldn’t get paid. While we were in talks with management and the BIU, they hired overseas installers to continue the work.. Some of the local installers never returned. SMH!

  11. Bullwinkle T. Mooseknuckle says:

    I am waiting for a bus to get there… apparently It might take some time…so please expediate this meeting without me…please cast my vote as “no” three times as this will be my limit in adversarial conotation.
    By then if not resolved and I am still waiting for said public transportation then full strike should be implimented as Santa and I will apparently still be awaiting a tax dollar implementation there of… Oh my***.

  12. Anna says:

    I heard Mike Jones saying he was a contractor and that when One had no more need of his services his contract was not renewed. Yes, Mike, that’s how contracting works! Stop trying to blame others for not understanding how contracting works.
    Next time you stop your mobile phone contract I hope One sue you for not renewing it! Bermuda – another world….

  13. gustav says:

    it is Friday
    and the bus drivers don’t show their solidarity and down tools as well ?
    that’s indeed unusual …………

  14. Trufth says:

    Face facts everyone: companies downsize to become more efficient and to adapt to technology ALL THE TIME. Expect MUCH more of this.

    Does BIU still fight for the job security of the train conductors that used to run our train? Do we still have wagon wheel repairmen getting paid? No, we don’t, nor should we. Times change.

    We need to keep ourselves marketable and employable. It sucks but some of us need to get re-trained to do something else.

  15. Me says:

    The spend spend spend gomint goes along as usual while we all suffer at least we can workout for free in st georges …right

  16. LaV says:

    Do bermudians understand unions? Apparently not.