Were the Government to grow a pair during this fiasco:

Furbert would be facing prosecution with the chance of 2 years incarceration.

The shop stewards would be fined.

The union would be fined.

The performance bond would be recalled as not even 72 hours notice was given.

We’d be without bus and possibly ferry service for about a month. With the performance bond recalled and a hefty fine levvied against the union their kitty would be pretty empty. That means limited financial support for the strikers. They’d eventually break.

Public transport would make the list of essential services specified in the Act.

The 6.8mil could have gone towards running a severely limited service using minibus operators and the like. It would be inconvinient for a spell, but eventually rent and utilities would be due and one by one the drivers would have to return to work. In calling a snap strike over a justified dismissal the union really did invite themselves to be broken Thatcher-style. Instead Lister takes a much softer approach in trying to stick to his guns regarding the dismissal, and has his legs cut out from under him. Bully boy tactics by the union rewarded once more. Pathetic.

That missing money would go a long way to helping Cog balance the budget huh?

Bernews, I think you are doing an excellent job!! Keep up the good work. Your news is current, you are continuously updating your articles and provide service well into the evening/night when other advertisers do not. You advertise the latest news articles before any other advertisers do. You were the first to provide “speak your mind” services, where we are able to express ourselves about any given topic.

There is no need to defend yourself. As a regular reader of your pages, I am very pleased with your work.

If someone has a problem, they should seek other advertising pages.

Well done

… you dont just mistype “21 days” when trying to write “72 hours”…

First, Ewart Brown said, at the point the $7m was forgiven, that in return the BIU promised 21 days notice prior to strikes.

Second, on Feb 10 the PLP website (linked in the article) said the ‘PLP Government’ stated that there is 21 days notice required. Note .. the ‘PLP Government’.

Then, after 3 or 4 days of strongly resisting the union, overnight Lister climbs down and does what the BIU says.

Then, we come to find there apparently is no 21 days notice requirement.

It’s impossible to understand what is going on. I’d like to ask the PLP Government:
1. What, exactly, was agreed in return for the foregiveness of the $7m?
2. Why was the PLP Government under the impression there was 21 days notice requirement, if that is not the case?
3. What exactly transpired to make the Government climb down last Friday on such a clear-cut issue, where the BIU was clearly in the wrong? What facts are being withheld from the public? Why does the BIU seem to have so much unrectricted power in this?

I think we all know the answer to that: none, zip, nil, ninguno, nessuno.

And as is the case with virtually any other matter relating to this Government and the concept of accountability …. nothing will be done about it.

LOL

Also, has Mr. Furbert explained why he ignored the Gazette Extraordinary that the Government filed requiring the drivers to return to work immediately? The Labour Disputes Act seems pretty clear about that. If the BIU are not going to follow the law, what chance of them following an “agreement”?

Let me guess. When it comes to the prospect of industrial action, there will never be normal circumstances.

Doesn’t look like good value for our 6.8 million does it? Can we have it back please?

You couldn’t make this up.

Without repercussions, contracts in and of themselves are meaningless.

It appears that the BIU has agreed and aknowledged that they do in fact need to give at least 72 (3 days) notice of an intention to go on strike.

As it appears that they have not done that (although I will admit we don’t have all the facts), can the Government now change its mind too?

I bet the Premier could do with that $6.8M with the Budget coming up on Friday