‘Public Is Becoming Weary Of Labour Unrest’
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Kim Wilson responded to the recent and developing industrial activity saying, “The public is becoming very weary of these frequent occurrences of labour unrest. We are currently in a very precarious position regarding our economy.”
Minister Wilson said it causes inconvenience to hard working Bermudians, and has an “adverse affect on our visitors who seek to explore the Island using our modes of public transport.”
“We understand that the nature of the workplace means that disputes and complaints will arise from time to time,” said Minister Wilson. “We also understand the importance of upholding the rights of the worker and finding an amicable balance when disagreements arise between management and the employee.”
Minister Wilson continued on to say: “However, again, these are delicate times that we are currently living in and it is my hope that all parties would exhaust every single available avenue to find common ground solutions before engaging in snap industrial action.”
Dock workers are presently on an overtime ban, bus drivers had a meeting yesterday over a suspended colleague, prison officers are unofficially said to be considering strike action, and Corporation workers stopped work this morning to meet at BIU headquarters.
Minister Wilson’s full statement follows below:
The public is becoming very weary of these frequent occurrences of labour unrest. We are currently in a very precarious position regarding our economy.
And any disruption to our commerce, trade and other services that are needed to make Bermuda function efficiently can have a tremendously adverse affect on our overall community.
As an example, when such crucial services as public transportation are hampered, it has a domino effect on residents who rely on this key service to carry out their every day responsibilities.
In a climate when Bermudians are trying to make the very most of their resources to provide for their families – an interruption of public services due to industrial action, just adds another unnecessary layer of unease on those hard working Bermudians who simply want to get through each day without having to be concerned about a public service, which is uncertain or unreliable.
Service interruptions also have an adverse affect on our visitors who seek to explore the Island using our modes of public transport. Undoubtedly, this has a knock on affect on our economy with reduced visitor spending.
As leaders, employers, employees and unions, we must be cognizant of setting positive examples for our next generation.
In fact it was only last week that I spoke to about 100 summer interns and impressed upon them the importance of having a strong work ethic, which means having integrity, pride and respect in how they conduct themselves professionally.
I also stressed the importance of going above and beyond when providing a service to others.
We understand that the nature of the workplace means that disputes and complaints will arise from time to time. We also understand the importance of upholding the rights of the worker and finding an amicable balance when disagreements arise between management and the employee.
And we also understand the role of the union to act as an advocate for the rights of the worker.
However, again, these are delicate times that we are currently living in and it is my hope that all parties would exhaust every single available avenue to find common ground solutions before engaging in snap industrial action.
And I want to call upon employers to ensure fair practices and the implementation of policies in accordance with standard operating procedures.
As I said last Friday, my Ministry is monitoring the current labour matters very closely, and we will follow the processes as outlined under the Labour Relations Act 1975.
Ultimately, it is hoped that the industrial unrest being experienced in the various workforce sectors can be resolved without any undue unease or disruption to the public.
Waiting desperately for a Minister, Premier or somebody to lead this country and stop all of this industrial foolishness. Government: Please pull your heads out of the sand. Watching (aka ‘monitoring’) the problem is not going to make problem go away!
You couldn’t have said it any clearer
I support the Minister. Dealing with the union is tough. They seem to be more about protecting bad workers rather than promoting the welfare of the good ones. Once the election is over Chris F. will have some explaining to do.
very true. Unions definitely serve their purpose… but C Furbert just gives them a bad name…
the boy that cried wolf.. if he keeps this crap up then when a worker really needs legitimate union support the public will tell them to f* off!!
Not like the Govt will stand firm against the PLP’s ‘Labour’ division (LOL) even if the Union is found to be in the wrong, expect a climb down by Management & Govt any day now. Heavy Sigh !!
What’s the point of having a Progressive Labour government if it’s increasingly neither progressive nor labour-oriented?
It sounds like she is TRYING to EDJEMUCATE these guys into backing down with tactics Brown used all the time, it worked then, it will work now, they are the voters.
Deafening silence from Paula Cog and Terry Listless re the latest BIU/PTB fiasco- what hold does Chris “double negative” Furbert have over these two “leaders”?
….k i laughed at that one
I didn’t not laugh out loud
well played.. >.< i dont not feel retarded for missing that
LOL !
Ms Wilson: Your PLP Government has enabled this situation by constantly giving in to the BIU’s demands. Like a spoiled child they want more each time and you keep on giving it to them. Now they are totally out of control and you can’t figure out why.
I know you are an intelligent woman and I am impressed with the way you handle things. Perhaps we can look to you to talk some sense into some of the useless ministers who allow this to happen. The time has come for Government to stand up to the union, Let them strike if that’s when it takes. The union needs to be brought to its knees before it ruins Bermuda completely.
Thank you Ms. Wilson, you seem to be one of the only people in Government talking any sense.
I agree.
She seems to be the only talking period.
I agree also…. Ms. Wilson, you are the one to stop this madness. This union is going to destroy Bermuda far faster than any economy. We would all be behind you if you took a stand and said NO.
well said but she won’t hear you cause she is the only one in Government actually working. The other ones are oiling the clogs wheel.
Are they even here?
I see where this is going, KIM WILSON for president!!!
after all the money’s long gone down in Barbados
Are you crazy!, pay attention! She is allowing foreign contracts to be renewed when there are Bermudians capable of doing the job! I was hopeful when she first spoke but the true colors came out……self serving and full of garbage! I hope the whole island has a riot! It is coming!!
Who’s jobs is she giving away? What sectors are you referring too?
49,O00 jobs according to the labor market index, there are app 28000 local Bermudians between the ages of 21 and 64. You do the math! I don’t condone just free handouts to expats, but our country’s IB economy is designed that way and we are still creating jobs…go figure!
No Watching, you are crazy. I can say first hand that Ms Wilson is doing her part to protect the interest of QUALIFIED Bermudians – perhaps arguably pushing the ‘ol Bermudian Protectionist Policies too far (another debate on another forum no doubt one day soon). She actually “gets it”… one of the only members of our Government that does. The balance between protecting Bermuda’s economy and meeting the ‘needs’ of the voters is precarious. Having union unrest just makes the whole thing worse. I am a supporter of Ms Wilson (although not necessarily supportive of her endorsement of blanket policies), but i do wish that she could convince those around her to think and act a little more wisely and in the best interest of Bermuda and not just themselves.
Well I happen to have a factual situation to prove otherwise. Expat stays, Bermudian out of job! She is influenced and I can prove that to!, all bunch of hyprocrites.
I like Minister Wilson. I do.
Having said that, the public are more weary of the budget cuts that are being thrust on the people. Why is it that we, the people, are being punished for the crimes of others? Instead of taking cuts to the civil service and whatnot, it would be far better to go after the squandered funds that have been squirreled away between 2006-2010. Like the Dockyard pier. Or TCD. Just two glaring examples. Go get our money back AND THEN – AND ONLY THEN – come to the people, cap in hand and admit you all got us in this situation through short-term opportunistic thinking and turning a blind eye to the misappropriation of the peoples money. Weary of the labour unrest? The Party ain’t seen nothing yet…
The problem is that we all use the facilities and services bought with that massive overspend- we were too silent and too passive when it happened, and though I agree with your sentiment, the reality is that we all did this, and only we have the ability to do anything about it. We do it at the voting booths. Don’t vote for party, vote for the person. I hate to say it, but party politics are what has brought us to this point. We typically demand more and more from our government, yet we don’t seem to recognize the fact that ‘more’ of anything costs something, and we’re the only ones LEFT in Bermuda to foot that bill. International business has been leaving, tourism is dead, so- who’s left to pay? Us. We wrought this situation with our own hands- I agree that none of us could have foreseen the total lack of responsibility with which funds were spent- but here we are.
Change this at the voting booth. If you don’t vote, you’ve given your birthright to someone else- who may not be thinking the way you do.
i disagree with a bit of this. Remember the PLP didn’t win by that large a margin when it comes to actual votes..
a LOT of people were loud about these issues.. a lot of people didnt want more physically, they wanted more effciently and responsibly… a lot definitely saw the lack of responsibility which which funds were spent… and they were all labelled as fear mongers.
i do agree though that party politics did bring us here htough.. and yes those same party politics is what made some of those people so vocal… but there are still a vast number that have been shouting this for years and have been discredited with nothing more then personal insults.
@ fed up bermudian:
I agree with Scott. Many people spoke out against the overspending but with the Westminster system, the only real voice the people have is at the polling booth, by which time, as we have seen, it is far too late. We are even less than “cogs in the wheel.”
Who’s really running our coutry seems like the BIU.
Ewart.
Please let the PLP call an election before the end of the year – PLEASE. RIP.
The BIU has always run the country since it’s inception. Please check your history.
redbird……they will never “go back” on anything unless it is white.
I wonder if she hired some consultants who then hired a marketing company to conduct a telephone poll to ask if we are weary of BIU BS.
Every time I hear from home its worse . I think I’ll just stop calling , or answering the phone . I’ll change my P.O bx also while I’m at it .
If these workers want to strike… For in my reason unjustifiable reaons don’t sit around and hope some how everything will be sorted. Its about time the government grows a back bone. We all work hard for our money, and it is a hard time right now. ‘If your not at work tomorrow at 8 your don’t have a job anymore.’. Two large companies striking for such silly reasons, I’m sorry but I want to know if my child, mother, aunty is safe on the bus with a drug FREE driver. Also for the gentleman who slapped the young girl, yes she was rude and innapropriate but this does not justify a stranger slapping a child. We all have to work and follow rules and regulations, get over it or lose your job.
Dont go there about the guy that slapped that girl …if your child said to me what she said to him…it would probably be costing ME alot of money to replaced the teeth that she would have swallowed OK…..if we allow children to disrespect adults like that …then lets get more drugged up drivers……Shut up!
a pic and name should have been on here so everyone would know her nasty mouth
There won’t be much left to run, or ruin, the way things are going. There is no leadership and Toursim is on its knees and International Business leaving quietly. No great exodus but just bleeding small numbers every week. Notice the reduction in traffic? Notice the reduction in rents? Notice the number of condos/houses available for rent? Notice the number of condos/houses for sale? Notice the reduction in the number of containers coming into the docks? Notice no new hotels are being built? All the signs were/are there, except this Government has been turning a blind eye to it and now the reality is setting in. Unfortunately it will get worse as there is nothing to turn around the downturn caused by stupid Government policies.
Sadly, never a truer word said. The PLP have destroyed this island.
No need to feel sad and blue .. Remember , this is ‘The Platinum Period’
Just keep believing it .. close those eyes and click your heels together and keep repeating it .. LOL
@ sandy…the PLP are far from perfect, in fact pretty awful administrators, however Tourism was on a slippery slope prior to 98 and 2008 affected the entire world and although we think we are not of this world, we were seriously impacted as well…
So please let’s give this discussion some perspective….
Here’s some perspective. In 1998 the PLP bragged they could turn Tourism around in 100 days. It didn’t and it has maintained its downward path. 2008 was not the problem. The problems started when the PLP began its Term Limit, “Sven and Jonny” employment madness to appeal to their voter base. Then in 2007 it was the “free this that and everything else” to win the election. IB has Boards of Directors and shareholders, not voters. They do what is needed to remain competetive worldwide, not please about 20,000 locals.
The events in 2008 are used as an excuse by this lame duck Government, but the effects would have been greatly reduced if Bermuda’s economy had continued to have been handled as it had been up to 2004.
Your just like everyone else on here who seem to only remember PLP being in power from 1998. If you didn’t know already the Tourism sector has been in dead waters since the 80′s. It was the UBP that made Tourism fail while only worrying about boosting their Pockets with International business.
Yes the PLP spent heavily to try and fix what the UBP created with CedarBridge and Berkeley and a few other Buildings that they overspent on due to delays during Building.
With that said, you people act like Bermuda shouldn’t have went into a recession like were not a part of the “world” but our own World. Bermuda as a planet shouldn’t be having job cuts/loses and cut backs? please stfu !! Its easy to blame the PLP, too easy! At least look at the situation the WORLD has endured. Look at Portugal and Spain, those countries are crippling the Euro as we speak. Look at America and their Real-estate, Credit and stock market issues.
The UBP didn’t kill tourism (in the 80′s)
That was the BIU you’re thinking of .. remember … same thing as the PLP = BIU = PLP …
As you clearly didn’t read what I wrote it is pointless you making any comment. May I suggest you go and use your talents to support the BIU members on their asinine self destruct mission.
I’d like to argue that no, the PLP government didn’t ruin this Island, we the people did. We chose to vote them back into power knowing that they were grossly mismanaging everything that they touched. We chose to turn a blind eye. We chose to condone the racist and vile attacks politicians were making on eachother. Only about 1,000 people chose to get off their a$$e$ and challenge the underhanded move to bring in the Uighers, the rest chose to look the other way. We choose to sit and complain, but to do nothing else. We choose to be rude and intollerent of eachother. We choose to offer poor service and expect everything for nothing. Sandgrownan, the PLP didn’t ruin this country, WE DID! It’s time to do something – get out in the streets, force change. Either do somehting, or stop complaining. It’s that simple. A few might – most wont.
Don’t worry though. They’re “monitoring” it. What a relief. And we all thought they were doing bugger all.
Hopefully they’ll form a subcommittee to hire a consultant and table it for further discussion. You know, the usual extremely decisive way they do things.
This is true. That’s all the proof anyone should need, if convincing is necessary.
They blamed whites, they blamed expats, they blamed racism, they blamed anyone who didn’t agree with them. Now there is nobody left to blame – and PLP is finally having to take responsibility.
Unfortunately, their spoiled stepchild the BIU is still an immature teenager. Still wants everything. Time for some tough love. Throw the BIU out of the house and tell it to get a job.
Your whining, shifting blame, calling the race card et cetera is ALL USED UP.
Grow a backbone and a pair of testicles and deal with the useless stepchild who is living off us and ruining our lives.
BIU must go!!!
where are our values? what has happened to us as a country?
Skeptic ..the BIU have been doing this for a life time.This isn’t new or post 98 behavior…
As for values, let’s not forget that often times it has been insensitive / pretty awful management that has lead to industrial strife and again this is not new.
I will only be impressed when the Ministers take pay cuts and reduced hours…THEY are the ones that need to lead by example….practice what you preach…….
Totally agree with you!
They should take pay cuts and NOT reduce their hours. They expect us to do more with less remember.
I think the minister is making some valid points. These are times where we have to choose our battles wisely. I still don’t understand how the BIU will strike for more pay knowing where we are at. I work in hospitality and we have not been given a raise in almost 4 years due to the economic issues, but we cannot strike because of the agreement in place between the BIU and the hoteliers. So one would think tat the BIU throw the hotel workers under the bus considering that they strike for money for other vital services in Bermuda.
It just goes to show that they need to revamp the system as far as when a strike is justified. If a company goes against the CBA then and are not willing to budge then strike on but if they are within the agreement then accept it and try another means of handling it on a case by case basis. You can’t not strike in defence of someones personal morals because then, where does it end? Stick to the CBA and you will be justified in your actions otherwise you come off as being wrong.
Chris thinks saying umm umm is working
So far it appears to be…ummm ummm just saying…..
Chris saying ‘clear’ or ‘crystal clear’ is working!
The sad part is that while we are looking at the picture from it being labor unrest we are failing to sense the shift in the wind as the hurricane now approaches with gale force winds to the tune of strength and likes in which this country has never seen or experience,its called all out attack and war.you can only press the buttons of this generations but so many times and push them to the edge of the cliff only but once and then all hell breaks loose,sounds like a fairy tale when please remember Bermuda i have long predicted that there is something coming stronger then we have ever experience,when you hit black folk in the pocket where it actually is hurting them to the point where they cant see recorvery then they have the only method in by where it lays within there given being but to go to the only real thing they know and that is not to go down without a fight and unfortunately gone are the days where peaceful marches would do or sits in or mediation around the round table. the government is being constantly screwed by the union because of its long love affair they have always had when they where the opposition,but now the government is married to the people and still wants to keep the union as it’s lover and you know that just dont work because the wife always ends up kicking the lover’s ass.so grow up P.L.P and take your head out of the sand and listen to the voice of the people,we dont mind being screwed but atleast kiss us while your doing it so we atleast try to enjoy it, but in all seriousness Bermuda dont take a hold of its hurting people that are really in need of employment and financial help and stop trying to please these silly little spats amongst those that are already fat with wages and wealth,they all need to take a look at those that have lost jobs and made redundant and dont have an income and from the premier and her ministers right down to the average jo blo worker need to appreciate the call from the ones here in the wilderness not of our own making but greed and lies of those that call this economic climate reccession and makeing out like a bandit still.
Giant walls of text with poor sentence structure are very hard to read. I’m sure you had a good point somewhere in there Mr. Santucci, but you lost me about 4 lines in.
You went two lines further than I did before giving up trying to make sense of it.
You lost me at ‘to the tune’. Re-write it Mr. Santucci with proper structure, commas, fullstops etc.
The best part was about half way through…
“the government is being constantly screwed by the union because of its long love affair they have always had when they where the opposition,but now the government is married to the people and still wants to keep the union as it’s lover and you know that just dont work because the wife always ends up kicking the lover’s a**.”
@Santucci, dont worry about these fools! Typical nonsense from people that think their smarter then the next person. Instead of “trying harder” to comprehend what you typed, these few felt its more important to correct you.
This is why they don’t understand the youth of these lost generations. All they want to do is correct you by belittling your knowledge or the way you talk like C Furbert or the way you type like “Terry”. All they know of Bermuda is what printed inside of a newspaper or article.
Sorry Guilden, do not believe everything you hear on that story. I also know another side that Wayne would not want said. He was in fact the architect of his own demise and like Jamel they blame the white man. The UBP was let down by Wayne who wanted to get Grant Gibbons out. He won, Grant lost, He failed and the UBP held him accountable. He did not like it, he left. He used the UBP and borrowed thens of thousands of dollars (I have been told) and has yet to pay it off. To move from major critic to member you criticised is serious. Why is it that black ex UBP member blame the same whites they were in bed with when things don’t go the way they want. Then on election night there is this faded white back grown with two dark black people warning you about the evil white people. For goodness sake. That is the low of lows. You get in you bed then lay in it. Wayne Furbert was in the UBP for over 20 years and served as a Cabinet Minister this re-constituted chicken shi_ is indiciative of someone who is using a situation for personal benefit. What about the people he campaigned to. His television ads about no racism in the UBP. Cmon Guilden that is simple hypocritical bull. Wayne has not stood up to be a man. Instead he hides behind a pimp. There are names for politicians like that
Let me break this down for y’all-
In ANY other country, will you lose your job for?-
a) crashing a ferry into a dock while you are intoxicated.
b) working another job while you are claiming sick pay off your main job.
c) refusing to submit to a drug test after an accident YOU caused.
The answer is, it’s not one of the 3. It’s all 3. Why are any of these people still employed?
Additionally, this society- wide lack of accountability explains why when men are found with guns/ drugs/ having killed someone they are a ‘good boy who everyone loves’.
Time to grow up Bermuda!
AMEN!
there is a picture on the RG website of a bus worker with two badges one. One says “PLP 4 Life” and the other says “BIU 4 life”
Therein lies the problem.
I’m just soo thankful Lt.Col. Bi#ch is no where to be heard!!! AMEN
And where’s Vernie with her usual animated defence of her beloved party?
Coxy must have slapped her hand, told her timeout, and sent her to her room without her Nintendo and new PLP/BIU inspired game ‘Resident Evil’.
It’s still before noon; any Government type worth their salt doesn’t really get up to much until early afternoon.
STOP DEFENDING CRACKHEADS CHRIS THAT DRIVE MY CHIDREN TO SCHOOL…COULD IT BE THAT YOU’RE A HEAD TOO!!!!!!!!!!!????????????????
Where he overrode Terry Lister’s decision and re-instated the bus driver he opened a Pandora’s Box for all disgruntled blue collar workers in Bermuda with the support of Chris Furberts ignorance, to have a free for all with doing and getting away with what ever they like with the knowedge that their jobs will be protected. Throw in the fact that this is an election year and KABOOM! This is the BS that Bermuda now faces….I also find it highly curious that not a peep has been heard from ANY of the opposing parties in regards to this crap. Sorry candidates but keep ya BS for somebody who cares cause quite frankly I have nothing for any of you at this point….EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU are holding Bermuda hostage and are adding and aiding to the deteroation and detriment to OUR country.
How would a pay increase cause you to feel safe while looking after bad criminals – sit yourselves down with Mr. Lambe and put your ideas together and work together…. Be grateful you have jobs and that Mr. Eddie is willing to work with you people in order to keep you safe and the bad criminals locked up.
To the rest of the persons talking strike – remember everytime you go out it effects your families just as it much as it does the rest of us. Port strike – you cause the prices to rise, the shipping Company increases… Who died and left you all in charge.
Are we heading back to the great strike of the 80′s – where the entire Island was held hostage by hot heads.
Pull your drawers up and get to working not only for your families but for all of us to persons responsible for the crane on the docs – get to fixing.
Chris Furbert – loves to hear himself – remember his remarks during the bus strike earlier this year – review Bernews video clip…. blah blah blah…
Thanks Kim.
I was hoping to hear from Madam Premier…but wait she is over in the Czech Republic signing a tax treaty. Let me compute this: Bermuda #4 on the World’s List by GDP is signing a tax treaty with the Czech Republic on the same list at #51…oh right, this makes sense.