Comments on: BIU Cancels Meeting For City Workers

By: Baba Bracksheep

Baba Bracksheep — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:47:32 +0000

So, has the BIU issued an cancellation?

By: blankman

blankman — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:39:35 +0000

But if you want to be paid for that time it should be the union that’s doing the paying. After all, you’re attending the meeting on union business.

By: Razor Ramon

Razor Ramon — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:58:36 +0000

FAIL

By: Funny

Funny — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:44:41 +0000

I think it’s Gomint!! Lol

By: Yup

Yup — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:48:01 +0000

Funny how these URGENT meeting are NEVER held on a Sat or Sun!!!!!!!!!!

By: rick olson

rick olson — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:10:48 +0000

If you are going to have a meeting during work hours Monday morning is the perfect time as most places are closed today .

By: Death to party politics

Death to party politics — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:56:22 +0000

“What constituency or they running in?”

Shouldn’t that read: “What constituency ARE they running in?”

By: Alsys

Alsys — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:19:07 +0000

Actually, using THEY to describe a singular person of sex unknown is grammatically correct, Ms Furbert.

By: The Doctor

The Doctor — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:18:00 +0000

Although they have signed an agreement the devil is in the detail and management has the right to manage for what is in THERE best interest and the best interest of the business model that they have to sustainably run and run economically.

By: WellSaid

WellSaid — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:32:39 +0000

Few – now I can haz cheezeburger and relax.

By: Common Sense

Common Sense — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:28:32 +0000

@Laverne. I don’t represent the Corporation of Hamilton in any way, but I’ve been involved in negotiations with Government for a union seeking pay and other benefits, and our negotiating team held numerous meetings with Government.

Yes, we had to bring the proposals back to our membership for ratification and we did so at a mutually agreeable time that caused minimum inconvenience to our workers, the Government, and the general public.

Now that may be a foreign concept to Ms. Furbert but it worked and the negotiations were successful. I suspect that calling a meeting for 8am on Monday morning had a slightly different intention – to cause maximum rather than minimum disruption.

By: Cancer

Cancer — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:07:37 +0000

LISTEN YOU GUYS TALK ABOUT THE UNION’S SPELLING AND IT AIN’T FUNNY LET ME CORRECT

ITS ….
(an urgent meeting) not a urgent

(agenda) not agedna

(government) not government

Lollol!!

By: blankman

blankman — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:44:43 +0000

At which point the general membership should meet on THEIR time. If they have to meet during working hours they shouldn’t be paid for that time.

By: Lock this mongrel up

Lock this mongrel up — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:19:37 +0000

No wonder the country is facing an economic apocalypse. Half of the civil servants are illiterate.

By: Rocky Skink Too

Rocky Skink Too — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:54:56 +0000

Suggest you get your eyes checked

By: R you serious!!!

R you serious!!! — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:08:08 +0000

Hey BermyGuy,

Totally agree….but they spelled it A-G-E-D-N-A……I did not finish school, and I’ve looked this up in the dictionary…Can you please explain the meaning of this word???

By: CAR SPELL CARN.. CARN REED

CAR SPELL CARN.. CARN REED — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:33:48 +0000

SUM PEOPLO SWALLO A HOX AN CHOKE ON A FLEA. No wander the islan in truble.

By: Funny

Funny — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 02:45:55 +0000

LaugHverne lol

By: Baltic Fury

Baltic Fury — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:59:57 +0000

Why do you bother LaVerne? Are you just argumentative for the sake of it….a devil”s advocate? Because everything you say on here is so utterly contrary to common sense. The BIU are indefensible, it’s so black and white, it beggars belief it isn”t universally accepted.

By: Erica

Erica — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:17:52 +0000

A urgent meeting? How about An urgent meeting. And agedna. Wow spellcheck if you aren’t sure!

By: PEPPER

PEPPER — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:51:52 +0000

Can you imagine how Lavern has the time to call the talk shows everyday !!so when does she have the time to do the union members business ?
In my humble opinion the B.I.U. with the likes of the two Furberts running the show, will be none existent very soon.
The people of Bermuda do not need this so called union… who are so disruptive,
union members do you need the likes of Lavern and Chris, to run your union ? surely we can find better people to run the B.I,U.

By: Shaking the Head

Shaking the Head — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:32:32 +0000

I wonder if the message from the BIU to its memebers was that the “Meating has bean cansilled”

By: PEPPER

PEPPER — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:11:21 +0000

Lavern , said on another blog that Tim Smith got his news from a talk show , well Lavern do you remeber when you were a senator( thank you are no longer one ) remember you mentioned quite a few times in your speeches regarding talk shows as a senator.

By: jt

jt — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:56:45 +0000

Oh ‘brother’!

By: Street talk

Street talk — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:31:08 +0000

You sound like a real anti labor person. BIU was originally setup to protect the workers that have little say. What’s happening lately may be ethically wrong but to state what you mentioned Is jus as rediculous.?……………….

By: LaVerne Furbert

LaVerne Furbert — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:12:38 +0000

If you want to be gramatically correct you should have written “Who are A G EDNA? What constituency or they running in?” or “Who is A G EDNA? What constituency is he or she running in?”

But we know everyone makes mistakes, even the rocky skink.

By: LaVerne Furbert

LaVerne Furbert — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:09:56 +0000

Shows how much you known about union negotiations. Yes, it’s true that negotiations are carried out between small groups representing both sides, however, at some the general membership must come together to agree on what the “small groups” have negotiated. Are you representing the Corporation of Hamilton?

By: True Bermudian

True Bermudian — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:30:39 +0000

Well the BIU has been useless and holding Bermuda back since its inception so don’t expect that to ever change.

By: Common Sense

Common Sense — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:16:56 +0000

Sadly, Ms Furbert’s response to the BIU workers walking off the job at 8am on a Monday morning to attend a “meeting” is so typical of the BIU’s attitude to Union-Management relations. It says, “We have every right to stop working whenever we choose, and we choose Monday, or Tuesday, or Wednesday etc. ”

To compare the workets unilaterally walking out on Monday morning with the negotiations between the BPSU and the Corporation of Hamilton is ludicrous. Negotiation meetings are carried out between small groups representing both sides and are scheduled well ahead of time to avoid clashing with work schedules by both parties. I suspect that if the BIU wanted to have their shop stewards meet with COH officlals to discuss the issues surrounding the matter in dispute, the COH would have no problem agreeing to such a meeting in work time.

All it would need is just a little common sense bit that is too much too much to ask.

By: Rick Rock

Rick Rock — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:27:33 +0000

Dislexic Union Members Untie!

By: Rocky Skink Too

Rocky Skink Too — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:43:03 +0000

Who is A G EDNA? What constituency are they running in?

By: Rocky Skink Too

Rocky Skink Too — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:41:15 +0000

And I hope the workers respect the rights of the Managers to manage…

By: wallawalla

wallawalla — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:36:05 +0000

More proof that the BIU is a joke. Glad i stopped making donations to them back in the 90s .Looks like their media relations people are about as good as their accounts people that wereuntil recently 10+ years behind and only caught up after getting outside help. The spelling on this poster is embarrassing. And they wonder why we don’t hire our own people. Hooked on phonics… worked for me.

By: Baltic Fury

Baltic Fury — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:25:15 +0000

…and we expect the Union to support good workers and condemn bad, something they never do. Which is why so many people see the BIU as such a joke. And outdated and absurd…the poster rhetoric is 40 years old and reads like something from 1960s Russia.

By: blankman

blankman — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:55:50 +0000

LaVerne, that’s a stretch even by your normal standards. Negotiating that agreement was part of management’s job. The union holding a meeting on company time is another matter entirely.

By: blankman

blankman — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:52:51 +0000

And the contract says …

By: LaVerne Furbert

LaVerne Furbert — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:28:25 +0000

I wonder if the Management of the Corporation of Hamilton met on Sundays when they were negotiating their agreement with the BPSU.

I don’t recall reading anything that states that the BIU was going on strike.

Seems like you all have some inside information.

By: LaVerne Furbert

LaVerne Furbert — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:25:02 +0000

Blankman, I find your posting very interesting.

By: Finally left!

Finally left! — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:09:12 +0000

Why can these meetings not be held after work hours?

By: The One (Original)

The One (Original) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:35:25 +0000

If the verkuss stayed of de weed there would be no problem.

By: Not Surprised

Not Surprised — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:31:09 +0000

Give me a break!
1. If a meeting is required, they may have given some thought of holding said meeting on a Sunday, which would have minimal impact on public services…..This will have an impact being it’s on a Monday Morning.
2. Also there is no references to management being invited just “Workers” so how is your statement supportive or inclusive of the quote that you have chosen to use? If management is in fact present and part of this meeting, this should be indicated on the flyer.
Your concern is of firing NOT of both parties working together as the quotes used is indicated…..just sayin’

By: Not Surprised

Not Surprised — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:22:46 +0000

sigh here we go again…..they need to hire a proof reader if they are going to be sending out a mass communication

By: asm

asm — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:59:42 +0000

Part of the agreement I’m sure was to show up for work, LaVernne.

By: goonerboy

goonerboy — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:52:22 +0000

I agree with you and the need for respecting workers’ rights.

But shouldn’t the employee also respect employers’ rights?

If this individual refused to take a drug test doesn’t the employer have the right to take action. This is especially true since it appears that this is policy and part of the collective bargaining agreement.

What is the point of having contracts and agreements if one party can constantly flout these regulations and call upon the Union to take action every time they contravene the agreed upon principles? Where is the accountability?

By: BermyGuy

BermyGuy — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:47:46 +0000

I bet Laverne made that sign while on the phone on a talk show.
Repeat after me A-G-E-N-D-A .

By: blankman

blankman — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:47:05 +0000

And I’m sure that agreement specifically addresses what happens if someone fails a drug test.

By: Rick Rock

Rick Rock — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:39:38 +0000

LaVerne, the idea of management and unions working together includes the assumption that the union members will actually show up and work. You appear to have overlooked that little detail.

I’d fire every last one who doesn’t turn up Monday. There’s plenty of unemployed people to take their place.

By: FancyFull

FancyFull — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:38:58 +0000

My Grandfather was a coal miner for 45 years in North England. By then retired, he watched Thatcher destroy the industry and watched the suffering of thousands of families through the strike in the early 1980′s. They weren’t striking because one of their brothers had been fired or let go, they were striking for wages. And the vast majority of the country, whilst sometime inconvenienced, supported them.

The BIU abuse the right to strike. Using a strike has to be a last resort, not a first one. This lack of responsible use of striking undermines it’s very effectiveness and garners public anger.

By: Family Man

Family Man — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:35:57 +0000

Ah, right then. The management has to “respect” the right of workers to wander off to a “meeting” with no notice. gotcha. Try that on a real job and see how long you last.

By: 3rd Grade Dropouts??

3rd Grade Dropouts?? — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:57:34 +0000

Wow, I feel an “armagedna” coming!