Premier Encourages Drivers to Return to Work

August 18, 2011

Paula-A-CoxPremier Paula Cox issued a statement this evening [Aug.18] saying, “I would encourage the bus drivers to return to work. Disruptions like these are harmful to our economy and right now as a country we need to be rowing in the same direction.

“When jobs are at stake it makes it personal; but let’s remember that Bermuda’s core values and principles are also at stake. We must commit to providing reliable and good quality service to the public.

“In particular, public transportation services must be safe. Rules must be followed if locals and visitors are to have confidence in the safety of our buses.

“Labour relations have been experiencing a few flashpoints recently. We will not always see eye to eye with unions, but we will stay the course in seeking to better the relationship.

“However, it is key that as a Government and as a people, we also stand up and be counted on issues of principle. That is Maturity.

“I am pleased to see members of our community joining to help one another by providing transport to those in need. It is this spirit of community that represents the best of our people.

“What’s more important, is for the Government and the union to work together so that the buses resume service to the public as quickly as possible,” concluded the Premier.

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Comments (45)

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  1. Finally.. says:

    Please dont cave in… Please stand you ground… if there are retired bus drivers or out of work HC truckers.. please employ them and get the buses back on the road.

    • Black Soil says:

      Madam Premier….you must “deal” with the BIU leadership. They bring us down. Your brothers and sisters want true leadership…we want to Rise!!!!

    • The Country vs BIU! says:

      Please don’t give in Madam Premier. The chain is only as strong as it’s weakest LINK!! This is the Government time to rally the whole Country

  2. CHRIS FURBERT MUST GO! AND THE PLP GOVERNMENT MUST CHANGE THE LAW NOW!!!!!!

    t

  3. Cleancut says:

    The Longer they are out on strike, the more money these Bus drivers will loose, the Union can’t pay them, the Government should play this one out and see just how many return to work after a few weeks.

    • PEPPER says:

      Now your talking …hold the union to the brink,you will see that drivers after they have no pay check !!!will return to work by MONDAY…. unless bro furbert who is in charge can pay them with union funds…..Lister you have the majority of Bermuda behind you ..do not give in.

    • Frank-Fed up says:

      The Union should pay them all with there funds.The same unaudited accounts that they will not show anyone.Do they have the money to pay them? Who knows?

      • Rockfish#2 says:

        Don’t be surprised if the BIU demand back pay as one of the conditions for returning to work!!!

      • BDA says:

        The Union has NO MONEY!!!! I know someone that is owed pay from over 2 months ago….Every week he calls and they say another 2 weeks. How can you expect money from their pay every week but when it comes to the Union paying out they take MONTHS!

  4. Down 'n' Dirty says:

    Hey Lister Get ya balls out the way , she’s swinging for them again !

  5. Shaking the Head says:

    Well look at this. Silence all along but now the public mood is known The Premier comes out to praise the people and support our position. Great leadership, not.

    • Keep Talking says:

      Seriously? I don’t think the premier or anyone else had to guess the public mood on this. I know you all are used to Ewart always being on the TV taking the spotlight from her ministers, but Cox is different, get over it.

      Anyhow, you wouldn’t support her if she did everything you wanted so, this is a waste of typing.

      • Shaking the Head says:

        That’s a new one “Ewart taking the spotlight from her ministers”. Not sure he would appreciate that.

        Actually I remember 1981 and being a part of the same assistance being offered today to visitors to get around because of the BIU crippling the Island. 30 years on and nothing has changed.

  6. The Messenger says:

    I was hoping the Premier would say, “Get your asses back to work tomorrow or your fired!”

  7. Familiar says:

    I have to give her credit. Her statement is worded very carefully. She’s pleased to see members of the community working together, and she wants the drivers to go back to work and the two sides to work together, but she doesn’t say which side she actually supports.

    • sandgrownan says:

      She’s hedging.

    • Rockfish#2 says:

      She must take a position,no more fence sitting please!! After all,Lister said it was a Cabinet decision to approve the firing.

      • Frank-Fed up says:

        All PLP ministers need to speek up and show there support for or against this issue and others to show all voters were they stand

      • lissa says:

        It seems clear to me who she supports as she is government after all and she said that the drivers need to go bacck to work. She told em rules are to be followed. She said we (she and labour relations )will not always see eye to eye with unions. She praised the locals for carting people around. Its pretty clear which side of the fence she is on. Its the one she works for.

  8. Makai Dickerson says:

    @ Shaking the head…Your post displays how irrational people can be on these blogs.

    The Premier is the leader of this island and therefore has appointed Ministers to carry out the work of various ministries. What would the logic in he speaking publicly on the issue when meetings between the BIU and DPT are taking place to resolve the issue? It is only right for her to display confidence in the Ministers whom are involved by letting them go about working out a solution and updating the public on the status of events.

    Now that it is clear that the BIU have no intention to back down on their stance given the statement from the union leader, it is appropriate for the Premier to give a statement on behalf of the entire government.

    Her statement is right on time as she can not come across as undermining the authority of the Ministers.

    She said what needs to be said at this time and I am confident the government will take the appropriate action as this issue moves on.

    • Shaking the Head says:

      Yet on 2 recent occasions she has let Terry Lister be the Minister and take charge only to undercut and publicly humiliate him. As a Cabinet Minister there is something called collective responsibility. As a Cabinet Minister, Terry Lister is Government. What the Premier has done is not leadership, it is cowardice.

      • Makai Dickerson says:

        You clearly are irrational so you will get no more replys from me.

        • Shaking the Head says:

          My response is irrational? You have a serious problem. Let’s try one question for you. Where in the Premier’s pronouncement did she refer to supporting Terry Lister or the Minister of Transport?

          PS It should be “replies”.

        • PDB says:

          Mr. Dickerson, it is a good question, where does the Premier’s statement indicate support for Terry Lister?
          You say you are confident the Gov’t will take appropriate action…, haven’t they already acted?
          It’s an old fashioned stand-off now. Something’s gotta give. And reading the Premier’s statement, particularly the last line, she’s leaving the door open to give in (like before).
          That isn’t strong leadership. There’s no solution offered, no explanation as to what the sticking points are, common ground to work from, nothing.
          This is potentially a major crisis and the public gets a 225 word waffle. I, you, WE (even Shaking My Head) deserves more than that.
          Either she supports her minister or not. This statement is unclear.

          • Makai Dickerson says:

            @PDB Irrational people get no reply from me.

            Was that the right word?

            • PDB says:

              irony might be a better word ;)

            • Shaking the Head says:

              I rest my case. The Premier did not support Terry Lister, again. Her pronouncemnet was clearly a signal that she wanted a situation where the BIU can win and the Government can take credit for ending the strike. Arbitration will result in the driver getting her job back and the BIU will be as uncontrollable as ever. The taxpayer again loses.

              Regarding your question as to the right word, “will receive” is better grammar than “get”.

  9. Watching! says:

    Watch out Bermuda! The US is heading into another recession. You think it is bad now? Bunch of uneducated fools!

  10. next? says:

    This is crunch time.
    The BIU have the potential to ruin Bermuda with their rampant cronyism, disguised as Union activity.
    If the government do not stick to their guns they are complicit with this corruption.
    The BIU have no support on this.
    Do NOT cave in.
    Then change the laws and do what is best for Bermuda- not party.

  11. Appalled says:

    Shame on you Chris Furbert. What principles are you standing on now? If that woman is innocent and has nothing to hide then she should take the test. In the meantime those other Bus Drivers looking for some time off for nothing should get back to work. How many more of the guilty are u going to get off the hook? Are you a lawyer now?
    When are you going to start assisting the Hotel Workers in their Union matters? Where are you then or do they not matter anymore? Is the only thing their good for is paying the $12.00 per week only to get. “I’ll get back to you.”

    • fed up nanny says:

      SHAME SHAME on you Bermuda for not responding to Appalled, regarding assistance from the Union for Hotel Workers. I worked in the corporate world over approx: 30 years and now working in the Hotel industry, due to redundancy. I find this industry/employees a lost and a non-factor to most especially, the PREMIER, UNION EXECUTIVES, UNION REPS, and ESPECIALLY THE TOURISUIM MININSTER who stresses -smile for the guest, for which we don’t need teaching, it’s in our nature)… HERE/HOTEL we sit at a WAGE FREEZE…. what this and- WHY?… this industry only offers the employee 5months a year, a living wage, if that. Here we sit; giving thanks noting it could be worst, and yes after the 5 months of earning that living wage, if that, it does get worse. Ms. PREMIER, UNION EXECUTIVES, UNION REPS. and ESPECIALLY THE TOURISUIM MININSTER-who wants us to smile. REALITY -Over the next 7months your mortgage is still due and you have to eat/live. It really amazes me whenever PTB (365 work days) have these temper tantrums CHRIS FURBERT and his foot solders go trampling all over the issue without a thought process. When the HOTEL EMPLOYESS bring there concerns of awful/disrespectful treatment by management and wages to the table/union and we are left with the feeling; be thankful you have a job;-WHY -again THE TOURISUIM MININSTER wants us to smile for the guest. After listening too and watching yet another temper tantrums put on by PTB, I am more disappointed in the show of hands from my fellow Bermudians, regarding, the state of affairs surrounding the HOTEL INUDRUSTRY and the emotional and financial stress it has on its BERMUDIAN EMPLOYEES. “If it does not impact me directly why should I be bothered?” With all this being said, someone please send fed-up-nanny a hit and advise me and my colleagues who to turn to when we feel a tantrum coming on… I’m putting it out there; that most Hotel employees have lost faith in CHRIS FURBERT AND HIS FOOT SOLDIERS.

  12. Triangle Drifter says:

    WAFFLE! Otherwise known as COGWASH. How about ‘Get back to work tomorrow or you are all fired effective imediatley’.

  13. fried onion says:

    This whole fiasco is nothing but smoke and mirrors.PLP and union been in bed for years so this nothing more than the union making government look good and then when it comes to the dock workers, government will return the favour. Wake up Bermuda!!!

  14. second says:

    Government has the full support of Bermuda If President Reagan could get rid of air traffic controllers we can do without these disruptive drivers.
    Thanks to those bus drivers who are still out there working this morning.

  15. unbelievable says:

    Honorable Paula Cox may need to read abow President Ronald Reagan handled the ridiculous demands of the air traffic controllers when they tried to hold America’s airline transport hostage by striking…..he fired them ALL!!

  16. My two cents says:

    Yes because we all know if their is one thing that will change a Bermudians mind, it is encouragement.

    • B, a Lady says:

      There/their: THERE is no reason for them to change THEIR minds.
      Where/were: WHERE WERE you when I called?
      Your/you’re: YOU’RE more than welcome to remove YOUR shoes.
      Too/to: There are TOO many people here TO count them

      • MinorMatters says:

        Hail Mary!! Bless you my Saint! Thank you – so well stated.

      • My two cents says:

        Thank you, grammar was never my strong point. And I forget to check on these things before I post because I DON’T CARE. It’s a blog dear, get a life.

        • B, a Lady says:

          Yes, it is evident you do not care. If you did, you would have paid attention in class. If you did, you would accept constructive criticism. Then, on reflection, you must care because you took the time to answer. A stupid answer, but an answer nonetheless. By the way, I have a life. I have a very good life because I finished school, and can string a sentence together properly, unlike you. And I’m not your dear. Just because something is a blog does not mean that you ditch proper writing, dear.

          • My two cents says:

            Wow, that’s bold. I messed up on their/there so that means I can’t string a sentence together and didn’t finish school? Ha! The judgemental attitudes in Bermuda are alarming. No wonder the island is a big mess!

  17. hold up says:

    STFU PAULA….. DO SOMETHING THAT MATTERS

    • MinorMatters says:

      not my choice of words…but definitely my sentiment. That speech is akin to a mother watching her unruly group of kids playing and saying from afar: “Now, now children…let’s play nicely.” Meanwhile “Teri” is running around with a hatchet coming out his forehead, “Chrissy” has one eyeball dangling on his cheek, blood everywhere and there’s an out and out brawl in effect and “Mommy” is oblivious.