BIU President Updates On Dock Overtime Ban
[Updated] BIU President Chris Furbert hosted a press conference this afternoon [Aug.23] to provide an update on the dock workers overtime ban.
On August 10th Stevedoring Services CEO Peter L. Aldrich confirmed the Port Workers Division of the BIU instituted an overtime ban on the Hamilton docks after talks deadlocked.
Mr Furbert said dock workers were asked to go on a “either a three-day work week when it’s a two-boat week, and a four-day work week when its a three-boat week. And we have challenges with that, because that means it is a loss of income for our members.”
“So what we said – the employers gave us these numbers, they work about 11 hours overtime on a weekly basis, so basically what they decided is that to protect their guaranteed 37.5 hour work week, they would suspend all overtime.”
The 26-minute audio of the press conference is below:
Update 7:20pm: Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Kim Wilson issued a statement, it follows in full below:
As the public is aware, pursuant to section 3 (1) of the Labour Relations Act 1975, Notice was received from Stevedoring Services Ltd. indicating that a labour dispute exists.
A Labour Relations Officer is currently engaged in mediating the issue with the relevant parties. It is my sincere hope that a timely resolution will be achieved.
In order for legislation to remain current and relevant ongoing review is required to determine the need for amendments. That said, the Ministry is currently reviewing a number of pieces of legislation which falls within our remit in preparation for the next legislative session.
The answer for Stevedoring is simple, shift the schedule by 12 hours or so, so The Oleander comes in on a MOnday morning. No need for any overtime then is there.
Amen, such a simple and immediate solution! It can’t be that be a deal to do this.
Ok you want to protect their 37.1/2 hours, if you work less in the week and work the over time will you not still get around the same amount of money. If its less work as you said then there is less hours of work If I had a company with less work then you work less hours. Furbert you are a JOKE. Why dont you protect their Job by letting them have a piece of the pie. I like to see management manage and go ahead with lay offs it is in the BIU handbooks
@cushite
only joke here is you your dummy…
Chris Furbert is confused. 3-4 years ago……Less ships…….my God…were doomed.
Really…doomed…….less ships means less sheeple……………………..
This guy should be taken out the back and…..
I freekin give up…..Ann hits unfir……. More spin…..more spin……..were screwed….
Hey-leave Bro. Chris alone! He might get confused and he doesn’t sound too sharp when he opens his mouth, but you gotta admit-the brotha’s got a swagger thing goin’ on…
I have to admit that I am a bit unclear on this one. If there is not enough money coming in the door (revenues down), what is management supposed to pay the workers out of? Exports have increased and imports have massively decreased. This is the reality of the business in Bermuda. It seems to me that the employer wanted to reduce the number of days so they won’t have to fire anyone. The workers response is go on an overtime ban in an effort to force the employer to pay their full wages? Seems nonsensical to me and perhaps one of those time when staff should really be working with management. I could be wrong of course but from what I can tell, this seems to be the deal.
“Truth (Original)”From whence did your information come? Are you privy to the accounts of Stevedoring Services?
you are just better off opening you mouth in the senate! people one bernews dont want to hey how dumb you really are!
know
Nothing better to do Senator than troll Bernews?
Stevedoring is part of a public company with audited financials so once their March 31, 2011 accounts are available on the BSX website, we’ll see if revenues are really down or not.
According to BCL, MiniMax and BOSS, imports are down so I think there is some truth to Truth’s post.
@Ms. Furbert- I am no more privy to their books than you are. I am however, privy to the statistics that are publicly released that states that imports are down. Since this is a major component of the service that Stevedoring Services provides, it stands to reason that revenues are down as well. Not only that but Chris Furbert himself stated that the BIU has been concerned for some time now (3 or 4 years) that due to the closer of the various sheds that there was an increase of “non-productive time” for the men. Not only that but he goes on to state that “ever since the sheds have closed, the men have less work to do”. That dovetails perfectly with the publicly released stats regarding imports and exports. A pretty crude business analysis of the facts;
1. Imports are down = less revenue
2. There is an increase in non productive time for the men- That means that people are on the payroll not
doing anything that moves the business forward. You are paying people for nothing and that simply not a sustainable practice.
3. The men have less work to do- That leaves 3 options:
A) pay people to do nothing
B) scale back on the work schedule or
C) lay people off.
Since “A” is not an option and “B” is being resisted by the workers and supported by the Unions then “C” seems to be the only remaining option.
Those are the facts as I understand them. If you are privy to more, I would welcome your feedback.
Senator, funny you should mention books. Is anyone privy to the BIU books?
SMOKED! Truth’s comment and OU812′s. lol!!!
Yes, the members and the Registrar General.
@Ms. Furbert- What further information can you add that will shed more light on the discussion? Are the members privy to Stevedoring Services books? Or can the Registrar General advise as to what is (and what is not) a prudent business decision for a private company?
What additional information do you have? I am open to it, if you would just share it. I am assuming that you jumped into this discussion for a specific purpose. If that purpose is not to enlighten the posters as to the full ragne of facts then what is the purpose?
Senator?
Oh well then….as a Member I guess my set of accounts must have had the wrong zip code or something cause I am YET to receive them…..
If they have them, then they are obviously prepared, so why havent they beenmade available as required by law?
Don’t blind her with facts!
Stevedoring Services Audited financials can be found at the following location http://www.bsx.com/CompanyDisplay.asp?CompanyID=125. They showed reduced levels of income for the last couple of years and lost money in last year.
Madame Senator…please tell Chris your good friend to submit the delinquent BIU Financial Statements to Government as required, until then and respectfully, please go away….
Actually Ms. Furbert, we’d like to be privy to the books at the BIU!
Are you saying that because we’ve not seen the company’s books they are lying? Are you a shareholder?
I can’t bear to listen to Furburt. Please get somebody with at least basic command of the English language.
Is the proposal that Sunday be considered a regular hour day & they will get a day off in leiu when they would otherwise be there but doing nothing?
Seems to make sense.
Some one buy him a copy of Hooked on Phonics for Christmas! It worked for me …LOL
Triangle Drifter,
Maybe you might want to stand in as a proxy for Chris Furbert. After all, you have much to say about everything, except who your really are. As I’ve said before, and I’ll say it again, Chris Furbert has the courage of his convictions. Do you?
Laverne….Shut up…………………You could never be a Sentaor by election…..
And I would say, your correct LaVerne. I know a few Lawyers that have convictions..’courage’..? Confinement is a beach…….
LaVerne LaVerne LaVerne,
Please give it a break. The great defenfer of anything no matter how wrong or far fetched. I find it very unprofessional of you to always be here or on some talk shows running your mouth as if all you say is gospel. you are a true embarrasment to my goverment. Im not sure who sounds more pathetic you or your cousin Chris. Wonder hat you,ll have to say when the walls of the union finally fall and all the dirt and dishonesty comes to surface, But knowing you you,ll surely look for away to make it right no matter how wrong it is. and finally start using to workers voice for what it was meant to be just that the workers voice. Over the past few years it is so evident its used as your vehicle to promote everytthing plp. I,ll await your senseless reply
While the courage of one’s convictions is, indeed, commendable, one should have the ability to clearly verbalize those convictions. Otherwise, it just sounds like whining. Mr. Furbert holds a public position and, as such, addresses us regularly. He has an obligation to set out his case clearly. There is a solution and that would be him reading from a prepared statement. I am sure you could assist in writing such statements? Lastly, why are you so adamant that we reveal our identities? Words and opinions have merit whether the speaker is known, or unknown, to you. The question you should really be asking yourself is why we are so reluctant to identify ourselves. To me, this reluctance speaks volumes about the level of trust that exists between all stakeholders on this island.
No Laverne, I’ll keep on drifting.
I’d like to keep all the air in my car tires & the paint unblemished if you know what I mean. If unsure check with cousin Chris. He can bring you up to scratch on how those with differences of opinion in the union are treated.
You people have no respect..wow!
Are you denying the methods of intimidation?
If you hope to receive respect then be prepared to SHOW respect.
Simples.
Street Talk – respect is not an automatic right of any individual – it is earned by setting the right example and always doing the right thing in front of all and in spite of being tempted otherwise – afterall, what are we trying to teach our children???? The Golden Rule says it all “Do unto others…..” that
LaVerne, Most people are astounded at the amazing conditions the dockworkers work under. It is astounding to most people that they have, for example, a minimum of 7 weeks vacation plus 14 weeks “sick” leave. And that they can carry forward 100 days “sick” leave. Basically, they are often paid full time for working about half a year.
There is no sympathy at all among normal people, who have 2 weeks of sick leave and 3 weeks vacation a year, for people who are greedy and lazy, and who now are now doing all they can to hold onto inflated remuneration packages that date back to a different era. Those days are gone. The economy is different.
Man……they get all those ‘perks” INEEDA JOB,
Contact me at http://www.hookmeup.com
I’m sorry…I HAVE TEARS POURING DOWN MY FACE RIGHT NOW…..
BIU ACCOUNTS YEARS IN DELINQUENCY….
ALL OF BERMUDA TIRED N FED UP WITH THE WHOLE FURBERT SAGA….
AND YOU MS FURBERT DECIDE TO PEEK YOUR HEAD OUTTA LORD KNOWS WHERE TO THROW RANDOM BS COMMENTS TO US????
Just where were you last week when the whole bus situation was at a head????
So typical of you, you must not be getting much attention lately….
ANYWHO, PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHEN/WHERE I MAY RETURN MY PLP MEMBERS CARD FOR A REFUND, BECAUSE TRUST ME IT’S NOT WORTH THE PLASTIC ITS PRINTED ON TO ME ANYMORE….
Best of all he wants to go back 30 years and get paid by the ton. Let’s take everything back 30 years and pay the same rates too. How’s that for a simple solution. Each time any person from the BIU speaks just reinforces that the time for their replecement is now, to be replaced by a Union, and people, who are living in the present and understand the real world.
Triangle…yaah bean driftin to long. Think about what you wrote. Two ships, does not matter what day of the week they arrive. But leaving the East Coast does due to “Shipments” Regular run.
In this day and age, at the current rate I would be happy to just be a part of the operation.
If Chris is worried about Tarrifs et al…..and weights from the Docks the he should tell his mates…start bringing it in …..there….staed of 5 fathom hole and sow east brakers…..jingus……
(oil ducks to)
How is it that the leader of a company (the BIU) that appears to be so incompetently run that they have not produced audited financials in 10 years – expected to understand how a business is run. They should save their members money by firing their four accountants and hiring an accounting firm to get their books in order. If I remember correctly these four make up about $150K of their annual payroll or in other words 1.5 Million over 10 years. The result of this – raises and job security for NOT doing a good job. Is anyone surprised that he and some of the members seem so far removed from the reality of business and the basic understanding of profit and loss!?
Told yoo lutt dem buys waz re-laited………
Let the fire begin…….As Randy Travis said…..”I told you so”………..
Chris Furbert makes reference of the move to take LCL out of the hands of Unionised Stevedores a few yearss ago resulting in higher prices to businesses. This is totaly untrue as the same work is done by half the staff and trucks dont half to que for an hour before getting one of the lazy union Checkers! This has resulted in considerable savings to the consumer and big profets for the consolidators.
@26
now you should choke on that crap you talking….idiot
Chris Furbert makes reference of the move to take LCL out of the hands of Unionised Stevedores a few yearss ago resulting in higher prices to businesses. This is totaly untrue as the same work is done by half the staff and trucks dont half to que for an hour before getting one of the lazy union Checkers! This has resulted in considerable savings to the consumer and big profits for the consolidators.
Chris Furbert is mucs
Chris Furbert makes mention that none of the importers(Butterfield & Vallis and BGA) complained when the Oleander was on dry dock for 14 weeks being refitted.
Therefore why would the importers(Butterfield & Vallis and BGA) complain and exaggerate the Oleander being offloaded on Monday’s now.
Ok Chris here goes.
The ship that replaced the Oleander is noticeably slower than the Oleander making it impossible for it to make up any time if delayed and/or if there is a rough crossing coming to Bermuda or on it’s return voyage to Salem NJ. This ship was arriving at various times on any given Monday during the 14 weeks.
Guess what Chris. Everyone was aware the ship would be coming on Mondays a long time before it took over from the Oleander and there was nothing that could be done about it. I believe it arrived on a Sunday once and that was on it’s maiden voyage. There was a great sigh of relief when the MV HOHESAND made it’s final voyage back to Salem knowing that in return we would get the Oleander back and things would be back to normal,little did we know it wouldn’t last.
Overtime ban includes a go slow also and this equals to a wait of 2 to 3 hours per container and with lunch time on the dock that could add up to 2 containers in a day for a trucker and the importers with high volumes of containers. Add in traffic,distance of travel and this becomes unacceptable for all concerned.
Chris furbert is ridiculous with his comments,thinking that he can fool all the people all the time with his HUFF AND PUFF. No Chris,all your espousing is a great amount of nothing for all the blind folk whom are willing to listen without seeing through all that hot air.
Chris the people can see the trucks lined up in the middle of the road every single day,all day. Well those that want to see them anyway:-)
i believe the reason that people support CF is because they feel like they need someone to “defend” them from this boogeyman that we have kept alive.
the boogeyman used to be the white man – then the PLP won the election (boogeyman dead right?)
nope!
enter the new boogeyman. the boogeyman who now is black. wait a miniute….this can’t be so!!
so now we have a con=fused electorate who have little idea of how to or where to exert their hatred of the original boogeyman so they embrace the new boogeyman because he/she is one of “us”.
in this case “us” should mean Bermudian not black or white.
so long as we have this mentality…..the self-blinding flock will always support people like CF/LF/BIU, etc.
Food for thought, I’ve wondered why generally intelligent people would follow people who are clearly not as smart as they are?
Do they have low self-esteem? Are they spoiled? Are they just stuck in a routine?
Thanks for the suggestion, I will have to think on this “new” idea.
But what is clear is that IF the flock sustain their current support of CF/LF/BIU there soon will be no bird house for any of them to meet at! Can’t blame that one on the “boogeyman”! Only the man in the mirror can take that responsibility.
When will our Premier handle the generational transition that is required?
Or is it safer for her to be the only one in the room with a decent vocabulary, irrespective of how short this will make her reign.
More spin, different department. I’m surprised the island isn’t dizzy with all this spinning going on.
I just wish that Chris would take some elocution lessons. I understand that we’re an island of many “languages” but to hear him talk on TV or Radio as the head of a seemingly powerful union, he should at least speak the part. The more I hear him stumble over his language, the more I want to take a baseball bat to the TV.
Well said Chris Furbert AKA ‘Elmer Fudd’ LMAO!!
LMBO!!! ,,,Elmer Fudd,,,That’s Funneee,,,”abee-dee-bee-dee-bee,,,that’s all folks”!!! ROTFL!!!
The entire press conference has a lot to be desired however . . .
Can we employ a high school student to provide a prewritten speech with the word “the” highlighted and written in bold, as the made up word of “de” makes me cringe.
I had some items sail from New Jersey on Friday, they arrived here on Sunday and fast forward had them at my door first thing Tuesday morning… not much of a delay from what I can tell and I’m pretty sure they would have off loaded and food/produce first – Sounds like Chris Furbert is trying to throw his weight around again
It’s all cultrual and will come back if not sooner to bite the ass of the majority.
People vote these people in. Members and party members…………
Ironic eh?
Someone say Tripoli…….
Now they’ve held a meeting this morning,no notice to the importers and more importantly no notice to the truckers. They waited until almost 9:45 am for the first sign of movement by the workers.
Now they’ve walked off the dock at approximately 3:20 pm without any notice to anyone.
Truckers down there waiting in the sun and no work forthcoming.
Can’t wait to see what Chris has to say about this. Then again,I’ll read the statement after it’s been edited and cleaned up.
What happened? Somebody did not say “Good Morning” to the little dears?
Another wildcat strike. Good grounds to fire the lot of them. There must be plenty who would like the jobs.
Exacly
Please! Please! Please! Even a blind man could see that the support for Chris Furbert & LaWorm (!!) and the rest of them just ain’t what it used to be!!! Even a worm will turn and the Bermuda electorate is sick and tired of all the crap that has gone on! HOW DARE YOU question whether any blogger has access to accounts where is the BIU’s?????? Please don’t demean us all by saying “with the members and the Registry General” we all know that is a lie!!!
You will get no respect from me ever playing both sides of the fence – a Government Senator (is this illegal or merely unethical?!?!?) plus a union boss – (and before you just write me off, I have voted PLP in the past – but never again!) pllllleeeeaaassseee! Get over yourself and move over and let a new day dawn with young vibrant bright young people – and about all HONEST!!
One thing seems very clear. The small stoppages will continue as the BIU will not call a General Strike as they are unlikely to have the money to pay their members and cannot risk the fallout.
Chris and crew know they got Bermuda by the balls…..You can have all the experience but if your not certified to operate on the docks………..it’s a freeking joke……workmens comp et al……laws……he and his cousin are laghin their asses off………………………………………………..whilst the common man suffers……Karma is a bitch……………………………..
People People People, those dock workers make a lot of $..the hourly rate for a garage helper alone is insanely high they are all paid very well.. I have seen the documents. So have a nibble on that..SMH
Where did LaVerne go??? Truth too hot for her to handle…..all of a sudden she shuts up …. wish that would last!!!
If someone has a problem at work: pay/hours/benefits, how is it addressed ?
When two or more people are doing the same basic job, is each of those people being paid and benefited equally ?
In the office, do u know whether the person next to you is paid more or less than you for the same or similar job ?