Labour Dispute Resolved: Workers To Return
A resolution has been reached in the ongoing impasse which has affected services at Marine & Ports and Department of Parks, and workers are due to return to their jobs tomorrow [Feb 25], Minister of Home Affairs Michael Fahy said this evening.
Minister Fahy said, “It has been agreed that with the impasse now settled, all employees will return to work tomorrow following which the Government will lift the injunction against the essential services and the arbitration proceedings that commenced as regards non-essential services will come to an end.
“As part of the resolution, it was agreed that the Government’s Department of Internal Audit will provide a review and assessment of the Department of Marine and Ports Services and the Department of Parks. The findings of Internal Audit will be shared with the Cabinet Secretary who will share any recommendations with the BIU. This process should go a long way to identify a number of issues that have been outstanding for many years which the Government is keen to resolve.”
The Minister continued, “Today’s resolution was a result of discussions with the Ministry of Home Affairs Permanent Secretary, representatives from the Department of Workforce Development and representatives from the Bermuda Industrial Union.
“I stress that employees who decided to walk off the job last week to engage in irregular and unlawful industrial action will not be paid for the hours of work they missed.”
“We are grateful that the parties have come to an agreement so that services can return back to normal. As I’ve said previously, there are ways to resolve disputes and irregular industrial actions benefit no one, least of all the public.
“I want to once again thank my technical officers for doing their due diligence to get the parties together, and we are pleased that no further legal action was necessary to bring about a solution to these matters. I again urge any party that has a grievance to follow the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreements and the statutory processes to resolve disputes.
“I also want to reinforce the fact that such matters must be dealt with by the respective Permanent Secretaries so as to ensure Ministers remain out of staffing issues,” added the Minister.
“Great news this matter is finally resolved!” I must extend my Congratulations to the WORKERS for STANDING TOGETHER.
Unfortunately, this is a matter that could have been resolved if Management/government would have just come to the table and listen and talked and negotiated. Any attempt to address the issues, would have been best.
This is a matter in which the Workers were pushed up against the wall. This issue has been ongoing for a long time, and the Management failed to address these ongoing issues. The Workers attempted to get dialogue going, but the management failed to address the outstanding issues.
The workers took the only action they deem was necessary. Workers took the only form of protest that they had to exercise their power and show that this issue was very important. It was so important that Workers were willing to lose pay for staying of the job. “Workers made the ultimate sacrifice.” This indicated that workers were serious about the pressing issues, and wanted them addressed. Workers wanted an end result.
The Minister was a little pre-mature taking the action he took. He should have allowed for “Discussion between all parties to take place first, before taking out an unnecessary court order”. The Court Order did not serve the purpose he intended it too, as the workers continued to remained off the job. This speaks to how serious the workers perceived this matter.
Finally, when all the parties realized that “TALK” was key to finding a solutions, they had a “Win, Win situation” on hand.
This fast action of taking “COURT ACTION”, only results in wasted TAX payers monies. Court action is not always the swifter or best path to go. Lets hope that this report will yield some positive results and the correct changes are put into place. Solutions are always the best way to go, Power Play is not.
Working together and listening to the Workers is Key to good Working relationships.
Well done Workers for standing strong together. We must continue to STAND STRONG and the goal will be achieved.
I agree workers should stand strong but they should do it legally. They have more to lose if the CBA gets thrown out the window. If they don’t abide by it, why should the employer?
Once they realized they weren’t getting paid by this Govt they quite quickly went back.
How much do the OBA pay you to appear so pro PLP on these blogs and therefore diminish credibility of the more sensible PLP bloggers?
The workers did not return back Quickly, as they realized the actions they took would result in a pay lost. The workers did not return back to work even after the Minister took court action The workers are very much aware of the labour laws. They do not make decisions lightly, without much thought. As I mention, the workers utilized their form of protest that they deem best in this situation. If not such a conclusion may not have been reached. The struggle is the struggle and all workers know it.
Thanks Workers for standing strong and together…. that is the only way forward !!
Much Love to Bermuda.
The Minister was not premature taking the action he took, he did exactly what he was supposed to do. Illegal strike -> Court injuction. The time for talking was over. The workers should have done what they were supposed to do and resolve the issue with the PS not demand discussions with the Minister who is involved in far more important things like saving Bermuda’s economy. Get down from your inflated opinions of yourselves. You break the rules, you suffer the consequences and I’m sure the small amount of money that was used to take out the writs will be more than covered by the savings on the wages of all those illegal strikers!
Can we have our $14 million now?
Huh? Did I miss the march?
No, white bermuda didn’t miss a thing, but yes, the majority stood to the wickets and batted down thec strip. That hurts a lot of heads, white and even more, some black bermudians….. now all of you can dislikemy ccomment !!
Even as a cricket fan, I’m not sure I understand your comment.
Do you even understand it?
Can anyone translate into English?
About Time!!
Good job fahy! Let’s see if they will be so quick to strike when they won’t get pay for the days that they are not working. Let’s get it right before the season starts.
So dumb, its not about pay, its about right…. but you and others are about injustice and keeping the working class where you think they belong, and thats under foot. …….United we stand, divided we all will fal, believe that !!!
You are in the minority, goofball. Enjoy being wrong.
I’m under paid, I just enjoy my job…oh, and waking up to one. When I got my job I had one of 3 options to put my $12 towards, charities are hurting and don’t pathetically attempt to criple our economy, the choice was rather easy.
“I stress that employees who decided to walk off the job last week to engage in irregular and unlawful industrial action will not be paid for the hours of work they missed.”
Did employees that conducted a similar action a few weeks ago suffer the same fate???
“We are grateful that the parties have come to an agreement so that services can return back to normal. As I’ve said previously, there are ways to resolve disputes and irregular industrial actions benefit no one, least of all the public.”
There may be ways to resolve disputes but there is nothing like a swift work stoppage. Lets see what comes from teh Internal Audit review… what happens if Management are found to be at fault… will there be accountability as recommended by SAGE!!
As we approach our tourism season we can not be going out on strike for every little dispute that we have,we are in bad shape as it is , cause if we are going to have strikes for very little issues it will only get worse , and that we don’t need..
We have rules in place, come on people let’s communicate ….grass is not always greener on the other side …
Maybe they get the message.
Bowt time.
I wonder what got them back to work, the realization that they are not getting paid while out on strike or the idea that the union faced stiff fines and penalties for not following the process.
Audit of the departments to find out what is going on…
Ok, the staff who walked out did not tell you and the management running the department is not telling you. This is the reason why the public sees no problem with privatizing ineffective, inefficient government departments. Thank you BIU and Government for pointing this out.
People Power, Bermuda is not alone, Venezuela, Ukraine, Syria, etc, etc, to all you Haters its a Global thing, Every Country goes through it even those of you who are loyal to your native countries and enjoying the beauty of Bermuda.
And a good thing we are Civil,(contrary to popular belief) this Island could be in a worst state, so bring it on HATERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK a.h.
Well at least you agree.
A person who constantly has to resort to subliminal and not so subliminal threats of violence tend to be possess a serious intellect deficit.
And not one of those countries you named are facing upheaval due to labor unrest or disputes.
You really are a nasty piece of work.
Nutcase
You’re one scary dude. I just hope you’re not this nasty at home.
You’re really comparing the labor dispute of the lazy workers in Bermuda with the government massacre of tens of thousands of civilians in Syria?
If you were in Syria right now, forget unions, they can shoot you on sight just for mentioning regime unfairness aloud.
You need to just stfu when grown folks are talking.
” the lazy workers in Bermuda” …… And you wonder why they have to strike to be heard.
Injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saw the m&p staff at the biu. I wana live just like them. They spend more time on land than on the water.
Congratulations Min Fahy for resolving another issue from the plp days!! I also want too thank you for NOT paying these workers while they were breaking the law!!! You also said it brilliantly when it comes to making the permanent secretaries responsible to deal with these types of matters, I have said it from the beginning, make the CS heads accountable!!! ,
Two things I forgot to mention, I am sure the union only decided to settle once they found out their members were not being paid and also the workers decided to back to work tomorrow because the weather is supposed to be better tomorrow!!!!
I know parks matters where dealt with at the PS level when DR Binns was there much was done. The BIU just does not like the answers he gave them. That is the reason why they say things have not be resolved. Also the BIU wants to go past the Civil servants and straight to the ministers as they did in the past. The BIU did not want to hear from management and they wanted the Minister.
Since the strike didn’t provide the required 21 days notice, can we have our $14 million from the BIU for the Berkeley bond please?
No.
Stop asking!
Not asking, either abide by the agreement or give back the money.
Let’s be honest here. They know their tails only went back work because they realized they won’t be getting paid for their time off. LOL
as a matter of fact,I know of a few older and many would say wiser Bermudians that laugh their heads off when the Ferries and Buses go on strike or walk off the job..
The Gypsy cab drivers and other non regular Gypsy cab drivers make a good few dollars which helps out their tiny pensions.
BTW..any one need a ride?…LMAO!.
The minibus companys must love this stuff too. Keep it up BIU. You will strike yourselves into oblivion. But hey, you will be standing strong doing it, just like the thousands of hotel jobs that have disappeared since 1981.
you know why that foreign ferry runs without any hiccups? BECAUSE ITS PRIVATIZED! LOLOLOLOLOL
Bie you’re speaking de truth. last summer that ferry ran without no issues.