Minister: Strike Sparked by Work Ethics
Speaking in the Senate today [Feb 16], Minister of Economy, Trade & Industry Kim Wilson spoke on last week’s bus strike saying: “Recent industrial action wherein bus service was suspended for several days was clearly sparked by one fundamental issue – the issue of ethics in the work place.”
The Minister said “I read the blogs and from what I have gathered, Bermuda was appalled by the actions of the Department of Public Transportation worker who called in sick for an extended period and so lacked respect for his employer that he was brazen enough to show up at his place of employment to do a hustle for a colleague for several consecutive days. What’s more, the same worker forged the name of the colleague that he was filling in for.”
“I submit today that the Department of Transportation incident is one example of many. The deterioration of our work ethics and its negative impact on the workplace is pervasive. I implore all Bermudian workers today to redirect their energies and give 100 percent,” continued Minister Wilson.
Saying she is only speaking of a very small percentage of the local work force, Minister Wilson said “One of the recurring themes I hear however, from both Bermudian owned businesses as well as international companies, is that too many Bermudians enter the work place with a sense of entitlement which hugely impacts their work ethic”
The Minister’s full statement is below:
Madam President, as the Labour Minister, I am tasked with developing a skilled workforce to meet the needs of local employers whilst promoting good industrial relations by providing advisory, conciliation, mediation and arbitration in the prevention and settlement of industrial disputes.
That said, I am committed in my goal to match as many employers with capable and qualified Bermudian employees to best ensure that all those who wish to be gainfully employed are provided with the tools they require to succeed.
One of the recurring themes I hear however, from both Bermudian owned businesses as well as international companies, is that too many Bermudians enter the work place with a sense of entitlement which hugely impacts their work ethic.
Now let me make it abundantly clear, I am only speaking of a very small percentage of the local work force however, you’ve heard the expression “one bad apple spoils the whole barrel” and regrettably there is much truth in this expression.
It’s no secret that we are living in economic times never before seen by this generation wherein there is evidence of a shrinking workforce and our friends and family members are struggling to find jobs.
Against this backdrop, you would think that we would be experiencing a massive paradigm shift in terms of increased efficiency, stellar time keeping and a revitalization of a work ethic akin to that of our parents and grandparents. By no means am I suggesting that they did not experience other challenges in the workplace, that’s perhaps the topic of another statement, however I am reminded often of our elders commitment to excellence.
Despite this legacy of commitment and despite the current climate, work ethic continues to challenge us.
Recent industrial action wherein bus service was suspended for several days was clearly sparked by one fundamental issue – the issue of ethics in the work place.
Madam President, recent events prompted some desktop research. My understanding of work ethics has been reinforced as a result.
My research suggests that: “Work ethics include not only how one feels about their job, career or vocation, but also how one performs his/her job or responsibilities. This involves attitude, behavior, respect, communication, and interaction; how one gets along with others. Work ethics involve such characteristics as honesty and accountability. Essentially, work ethics comes down to what one does or would do in a particular situation. It considers what is right and acceptable, and above board, versus what is wrong, underhanded, and under the table.”
Madam President, I read the blogs and from what I have gathered, Bermuda was appalled by the actions of the Department of Public Transportation worker who called in sick for an extended period and so lacked respect for his employer that he was brazen enough to show up at his place of employment to do a hustle for a colleague for several consecutive days. What’s more, the same worker forged the name of the colleague that he was filling in for.
It remains unclear if the worker that he was filling in for was on legitimate leave or not.
In any case Madam President, these events prompted management to discipline the wayward worker which resulted in industrial action.
By notice published via Gazette Extraordinary in the General Post Office Building, 56 Church Street, Hamilton HM 12 on 10th February, 2011, and in the Bermuda Sun on February 11th, I, in my capacity as Minister declared that a labour dispute exists between the Bermuda Industrial Union and the Department of Public Transportation with respect to the termination of the worker, and that in accordance with provisions of section 11 as read with section 4 of the Labour Disputes Act 1992, I advised the Union that I was referring the matter for settlement to the Labour Disputes Tribunal established under section 5 of the Act.
In accordance with provisions of section 19 of the Act, it is unlawful to engage in a strike or industrial action short of a strike once a dispute has been referred to the Labour Disputes Tribunal.
Madam President, I submit today that the Department of Transportation incident is one example of many. The deterioration of our work ethics and its negative impact on the workplace is pervasive. I implore all Bermudian workers today to redirect their energies and give 100 percent.
The maintenance of good order, discipline, efficiency and proper conduct is essential to the reputation of any business or organization. Every employee has a duty to his employer to preserve the highest standards in all aspects of work and behavior.
However Madam President, on the other hand, employers also owe a duty to their employees as outlined in the Employment Act 2000 which provides interalia that it is expedient to promote the fair treatment of employers and employees by providing minimum standards of employment, by establishing procedures and notice periods for the termination of employment, by providing employees with protection against unfair dismissal.
The promotion of superior work ethics requires a work environment wherein there is mutual respect between employer and employee.
Madam President, my appeal today is to Unions too. Unions must work with their members to assist them in preserving the high standards that employers require. Unions must promote the concept of good work ethics and make their members aware of standards of conduct, behavior and performance expected.
What’s more Madam President, Unions must conduct themselves accordingly and lead by example, demonstrating support for good work ethics and legal compliance.
After all, the Labour Disputes Act 1972 was established for the sole purpose of providing independent parties or arbitrators appointed by the parties, to hear the facts surrounding the labour dispute and to adjudicate and make a ruling accordingly. The vehicle that is the Labour Disputes Tribunal operates on well established standards supported by international labour organizations. Simply put, if two parties are in disagreement over a particular matter, an independent 3rd party is appointed to assist in reaching a settlement. In the absence of an arbitrator- the parties could remain deadlocked forever.
Madam President, history will record that Unions were established to seek protection for their workers in a time when the workers often times suffered abuses at the hands of their employers. Our parents and grandparents would recall the struggle.
Unions fought for decent wages, safe working conditions and proper medical care for themselves and their families.
I’ve been a student of the struggles of the Union during these times. I sat at the feet of my deceased Grand father – Robert Austin Wilson who was one of the founding members of the Bermuda Workers Association which later became the Bermuda Industrial Union and I watched, listened, and learned.
Madam President, I have established what I believe to be a good working relationship with the Unions. In fact when they reach out to me, I listen to their concerns and attempt to seek to provide win win solutions. Likewise when I reach out to them, they too will listen to the concerns I raise.
However, I cannot condone the deteriorating work ethic or support non-compliance.
Madam President, the Bermuda Constitution provides for freedom of assembly and association. This is a fundamental right of all citizens – to assemble freely and associate with other persons such as trade unions. For an employer to deny this right is unconstitutional. Now those are reasons to down tools!!!
Trade Unions are not above the law, but subject to it. Their rules are said to be a contract between the members and the union, but the rules are in reality, more than a contract. They operate under a legislative code laid down by Parliament and it must be obeyed by their membership.
Lord Denning, the most celebrated English judge of the 20th century is quoted as saying during the delivery of a judgment in which he was presiding “Be you never so high, the law is above you”. In other words, no one is above the law, not even a trade Union.
Madam President, ethics in the work place is all inclusive.
Thank-you Madam President.
Does she actually have a point?
The Minister has made many excellent points. It’s a shame that many in the BIU can’t also read her statement.
…nice speech, but I feel compelled in the wake of all that transpired is to say…blah, blah, blah.
Ms. Wilson seems to get it. With the exception of one incident (the infamous parking ticket), Senetor Wilson seems to be speaking for the people. I hope she can keep it up and not be drawn into party politics!
Sure she has a pint/point. BIU is above the law because they are the PLP.
Nurse!….my needle….I dropped it……..
Hang on Terry….let me call a Shop Steward. …….YO CHRIS!!!!!…..
In accordance with provisions of section 19 of the Act, it is unlawful to engage in a strike or industrial action short of a strike once a dispute has been referred to the Labour Disputes Tribunal.
and what was done?
NOT A DAM THING!
which has set the motion to do the same thing again and again again
AND get away with it!
good speech, but of no effect if not backed up by cabinet…..ppl like wilson and lister get it, that’s why they won’t last long.
You see how fast things go your way when you threaten to not vote PLP! All the BIU has to say is “we won’t vote for you” and government backs down! It is that simple! How else does a union become MORE powerful than the government? How else does a union get a 7 million dollar debt to be forgiven?
All talk, no action.
she doesn’t need that job. she’s a lawyer. lister is an accountant, doesn’t need his job either. they should both resign in protest.
meh no point resigning in protest because then, like before, a bunch of “yes-men” will fil the spot. at least atm theres SOME resistance
so, better to stay in cabinet and get your ‘testicular fortitude’ crushed? now who was it that used that term regularly?
This
OK Minister Blah blah blah…your speech sounds good blah blah blah. So what ARE you going to do to back it up? More pablum blah blah blah?
If you and Lister had any honour, any backbone, you would resign & at the very least retain a position as an independent. Sorry Senator Wilson, you would lose your seat. Perhaps the PLP could find another muppet to replace you.
Teryy could at least sit as an independent if he does not like what comes out of this BDA/UBP mix.
On the work ethic question, better look again. It is worse than you think but, as the layoffs escalate, the work ethic will improve.
Really? A speech on ethics from someone who doesn’t believe she should have to pay parking tickets?
Do as I say, not as I do.
what a joke..she has a nerve talking about work ethics !!!
does the word ‘FRAUD’ ring a bell to you folks???????? signing someone elses name is definitely worth a pink slip !!!!!!!!
Well Minister, you speak about work ethic, If you want to improve work ethics in the Bermuda work place, you most not encourage their bad work ethics by telling employers that they should hire these folks. These folks who come to the table, with their incompetence, bad behaviour, and a sence of entitlement most be made to feel the brunt of the ression, if they are expected to change their mindset.
It will not benefit any of them or the employers for that sake, by hiring them, if for no good reason, their are Bermudians. The recession will force people to change their way of thinking, over time.This will benefit Bermuda in the long run, but if you force employers to hire these unemployables, the quality of the work will suffer.
I can tell you this, those employers, who take pride in the product they produce, will go out of business before they subject their clients to this.
So if you mean them good, let them suffer a little longer and you will see the change in work ethics, that you would like to see.
Don’t be fooled, there are no, and I mean no good Masons, Carpenters, Electricians and Plumbers who is out of a job. The minute the good guys become available, they are hired within a couple of weeks and in some cases, a couple of days. Someone walking in your office and professing to be a skilled trades man, with 25 years of experience and can’t find work, is only giving you an opinion, on what he thinks about himself. I can guarantee you, that’s not the opinion of his past employers.
25 years in the field, is not any indication of ones competence. A lot of so called trades men, have been doing the wrong thing for that long. They are just tolerated when the times a good.
I would suggest, before you take these peoples word for it, their former employers should be contacted to qualify their statements. Minister Burch in this capacity, made policy decisions on the word one particular man, that claimed to be a Master mechanic, who went to ten companies and could not find work, what utter nonsense. How are you going to make policies, that will affect an entire industry from this claim, this decision by the, then Minister, was a big display of ignorance on his part. Or maybe he was just playing politics.
In one scene, I would like to see this position that the Ministry have taken continue, even though we all would suffer more. But how else, will people learn that, decisions like these must be made with good facts behind the.
I can tell you this, whatever the Union is saying about these people they have listed as Trades men, are far from it. But maybe we all as a country needs to suffer for a couple of years, and then maybe then and only then, will peoples eyes be opened, and demand more from their leaders.
What I am saying to you Minister, is this, your attempts employ Bermudians will only extend the recession. Why I say this, when all these permits expires and we no longer have our reliable worker, we will still not hire any drug addicts to go into peoples houses to do any repairs, so we will just close up shop and some of us will migrate elsewhere, where our skills are appreciated.
The only thing that this policy will do, is create a vacuum i the industry, that will be hard to fill, (considering how slow the department reacts to the real world)This will only put a damper on how fast we recover. Hence, your longer recession. I know you mean will, but you have made a policy that’s not based on facts but on politics.
Amen to that…
Critical Thinker has it on point!!! Business owners and professionals across the island feel the exact same way. Fire those self-unentitled fools. If they want a job they need to learn to work with professionalism.
How many times have you walked into a store and there is an employee having a personal conversation on the phone. When you try to ask them a question, they get an attitude because you interupted their ‘important’ conversation. They give you a one word answer and a stern look and carry on with their conversation.
I think these fools are giving too many chances. Too many things are over looked. They need to experience consequences and they need to experience them early.
I agree that the previous employers should be contacted while they are trying to cry wolf about being a hardworker but no one wants to hire you. If you are that GOOD – employers would be lined up trying to hire you.
Personally, I think all those strikers should be fired. They inconvenienced the public with no regard for what kind of affect it would have on the innocent. If you can’t fill their shoes with responsible Bermudian drivers – bring in the foreign drivers! DO IT!!! Watch how the island’s work ethics shape up.
Belches….:(
Kim Wilson is hot!
she’s taken M8, don’t even think about it!
Senator. Your sense of timing is poor. Your “speech” was not only too late, but it was also too diplomatic. What effect will it have for the next time this happens? And it will happen again because they have been emboldened by your lack of action against them. Instead you should have told them that they risk termination at the next illegal strike. It is so painful to watch you and your cohorts attempt to govern. At best, you should be called “administrators”. I say this because you and your cohorts just keep things running. But you do not
” govern” wherein you demonstrate wisdom, integrity, character, fortitude or innovative thinking.
I really think you are all so scared of losing your jobs ( and your free parking) that you end up looking scared of us. We now know that we can do whatever we want, and the most that will happen is a little speech from you. So, I’ll keep doing whatever I want and throw the speech in the trash and so on and so on. See where I’m going with this Senator?
Surely this is a case of the pot calling the kettle black??? Work ethics and Lord Denning’s comment that no one is above the law indeed!! Just a few short days ago this same Minister was claiming that she should not have to pay a parking ticket….. What this Minister (and others!) do not seem to understand is that Government needs to lead by example. When Ministers claim that they are above the law it sends a message of entitlement – to then wonder why Bermudian workers in turn have such a bad work attitude is beyond belief.
@listen up AMEN!!!! If it wasn’t a voilation of rights. I would love to set up a hidden camera and go into every shop in town and then post my video findings on the news of every channel on TV…….