Video: BIU President On 4.6% Pay Deduction
Bermuda Industrial Union President Chris Furbert held a press conference to discuss concerns surrounding the recent agreement which will see Government workers take a 4.6% pay deduction.
All six Unions and their memberships agreed to a 4.6% deduction in their overall package. Employees will receive one unpaid and un-worked day per month for two years, there will be a pay freeze until 2015 and incentives offered for workers to take early retirement. The Government said they expect the one unpaid day off to save approximately $21 million a year.
The agreement was reached after discussions with the BTUC on behalf of representatives of the six trade Unions: Bermuda Industrial Union, Bermuda Police Association, Bermuda Public Services Union, Bermuda Union of Teachers, Fire Services Association and the Prison Officers Association.
Explaining why the Unions worked with the Government, Mr Furbert said, “It was about the support of the country as to the reason why we made that decision. It wasn’t because it was PLP or OBA or whatever it is. We recognised the Government was asking us for assistance, so basically the BTUC came together as one..”
“The Government was looking for more savings, they were looking for about 15%,” said Mr Furbert, who said that in negotiations the Unions told Government they cannot go to their membership with 15%.
The full press conference is below, it’s 30 mins long and covers a wide range of topics:
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Why is Chris going to the media like he was the mastermind of this deal. BIU just joined the BTUC last year because they knew that that was the only credible way they could avoid massive layoffs of their membership. BIU needs to keep still and quiet because they are the newbies. BTUC needs to pull in the reings and let them know if BIU is part of the team, they need to start offering discounts at their gas station and stop these illegal strikes.
Yes indeed!
What do you mean the BIU is the “newbie”? The BTUC was only registered in 1998 – the BIU has been around for decades.
And why do the unions have to keep still and quiet? I have not always supported the BIU, but it seems like the unions are the only ones looking out for the workers these days.
BTUC is the joint body of unions (BTU, Police, BPSU, Police etc). They have their various contracts but they do certain things collectively. Since the BTUC is a comglomerate, they have more negotiation power and respect from the community and government. There is power in numbers.
So even though it was only established 15 years ago, the BIU has just joined recently and is now reaping some of the benefits of the collective group. Everyone nows that they would have gotten a worse deal if they were negotiating with government by themselves. The BTUC negotiated the deal with government NOT the BIU therefore Chris should NOT be holding the press conference but the president/spokesperson of the BTUC.
*Everyone knows
I’m not a fan of some of the recent BIU activity but credit where credit is due.
There are too many bloggers who sit at the extreme ends of the political spectrum and refuse to credit the other side or question their own.
People should be thanking the union members for doing their bit to help the island in this situation.
Thanks to all of you and enjoy your holiday!!
you have a lot to learn PUNK. Read the HISTORY of BERMUDA and the struggle the people went and still going through you might learn something and then write something that makes sense
For some reason I smell a rat, for the BIU to give in like this when they and their reps have stood for so much foolishness before is crazy . For example drunk bus drivers and ferry drivers. Workers entitlement for over time and working hours even if their BIU book says one thing. Protecting gross misconduct like fighting and your reps using the Past Government to get what they want. Its a shame that Under the PLP you fought them tooth and nail. Your BIU workers particularly W&E and Parks will soon start crying they cant do their jobs because of the 12 days off. Watch out workers will take action to get back those days one way or the other. I don’t trust the BIU on this one sorry.
@Young Bermudian
Why are you taking up valuable page space?
First of all it is a shame that Govt Ministers took a pay cut of %10, then gave themselves a pay increase in the new budget. Yet, they want the low paying Govt jobs to take pay cuts. If they had taken %10 off of there 150k a year job to argue like children at House of Assemble, we as a country would save way more then 21million in 2 years.
What a shame!
Actually government ministers gave themselves a pay decrease in the budget. But don’t let facts get in the way of a pack of lies.
Been having some of Burt’s illegal rum swizzle have you?
Math ain’t your strong point, is it?
While I agree that they should be cutting their pay, you might want to take a look at how your bias is clouding your logic.
$15,000 per MP over 2 years would need 700 MPs in order to reach $21 million.
“…we as a country would save way more then [sic] 21million in 2 years” is simply and utterly incorrect.
Obviously you don’t know what your talking about youngster. The Union has been around befor you and your parents and it has fought for decades for Bermudians to live comfortable in an era when the White Oligarchy Jim Crow System was MORE evident in Bermuda and there are not too many people who can go head to head with Mr Furbert with his wealth of knowledge and experience (as much as people don’t like him for whatever reason) and when a leader is fighting for the rights of the people they are always targeted, Dr Gordin , Ottie Simmons, Derrick Burgess and now Chris Furbert to name a few and tomorrow it will be someone else to continue the struggle that our for fathers started . So when your enjoying the Cup Match Holiday and if your getting PAID for the two days just remember that people before you sacrificed so you can benefit today so when de BIG dogs play stay on de porch!!!!!!!!!!
Dr Gorden
Dr. Gordon!!!!!!
Yes I am very much aware of the struggles that many of my seniors have endured so that individuals like myself may benefit. I enjoy talking to people like Mr. Simmons, reading local historical texts and understanding the current struggle of race in Bermuda today. My challenge with the BIU that the BIU drives forward by looking in the rear view mirror more than it does through the windshield. It’s been around for decades and has less solutions based action. I hear from my shop stewart and the president when there are problems, they are not proactive or platforming the challenges of the 35 and under-year old. Even when ideas are given to them they sleep on it. Thank God I am no longer under BIU, but a different union. It’s not perfect, but just the simple difference of the way they run things and build up their membership is lightning years ahead of the BIU. Sadly, my sentiment is not unusual amongst young adults and if the BIU isn’t careful (along with the naysayers of my post) the BIU will out live their relevancy and there will be a generation of new workers that will have little empathy for the old guard. #imjustsayin
ya can betcha last cent furbie aint taking no pay cut!
Im still not clear why I should take a 4.6% pay cut when I already do at least an hour a day for free as Im doing stuff for my fellow workers who do jack but stand around and talk all day. Most of governement will have the afternoon off today (not a holiday) but will still expect to get paid for it.
What the Governments negotiators should have done was to actually make people work the hours they’re being paid to work, and to sack them if they continue to refuse to comply.
If non government employess actually knew the extent of how little work is done by so many employees, they wouldn’t believe it.
its the high level PS and dept heads that are draining the coffers. get rid of the fat at the top
believe me when I say that is even more fat further down. My office is now empty for the day except for me. Who is paying those wages. You, thats who. Why should I still be working when no-one else is? Thats why i decided to make this post now during working hours, while im still here in the office and everyone else is out enjoying themselves and getting well paid for it.
I assume if those who have left were told they would not be getting paid, Mr Furbert would be sceaming about workers rights again.
I agree with just a guest. A lot of government workers are lazy and always off sick. Government need to get rid of some of their staff that’s a reality.
Lavern Furbert asking question!!!!! you work for the BIU, you have the inside scoops of thing….
Very nice to see Furbert with *Egg* on-his-face for a change!!!
NO more dictating “brotha”!!!