Minister, Unions, Chamber, BHA Attend Meeting
On Friday afternoon [Feb 7], the Minister of Home Affairs Michael Fahy convened a meeting with members of the Tripartite Economic Committee with the aim of providing an “overview of what additional steps could be taken to further ease the burdens being faced by Bermudians during these tough economic times.”
The meeting involved entities including the BIU and Chamber of Commerce, and came on the heels of last week’s labour dispute, which saw the Chamber fire their Executive Director after she shouted at BIU members from a balcony.
A Ministry spokesperson said, “Friday’s meeting was attended by members from the Bermuda Trade Union Congress, including Bermuda Industrial Union President Chris Furbert, as well as members from the Chamber of Commerce, the Bermuda Employers Council and the Bermuda Hotel Association.
“The aim of the gathering was to provide the Minister and Government representatives and members of the committee with an overview of what additional steps could be taken to further ease the burdens being faced by Bermudians during these tough economic times.
“At the heart of the meeting were two presentations; one given by a local grocery representative and the other by the Department of Consumer Affairs.
Minister Fahy, who is the Chairman of the Tripartite Economic Committee said, “This was a very timely meeting. Granted, we had a very difficult week which resulted in emotions and tensions running high due to a labour matter.
“Fortunately, we were able to resolve the labour differences and this was only accomplished by ensuring that there was a collaborative effort between Government, the BIU and the Fairmont Hamilton Princess.
“Friday’s meeting was a testament that despite the labour challenges, we can manage to come together in a harmonious way and work towards finding solutions for the betterment of Bermuda.”
Minister Fahy continued, “This Government recognises that we are still living in some very tough times where many Bermudians remain unemployed, where people are struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table for their families, and where they are desperately trying to fulfil their basic obligations.
“So Friday, we convened a meeting to hear two very important presentations on just what can be done to help ease the burden for Bermudians.”
The Minister also confirmed that next week, he will convene a meeting of the Labour Advisory Council to further the discussion on various labour matters.
Minister Fahy concluded, “Overall we had a very positive and productive gathering and I very much look forward to furthering our dialogue with all our union partners to ensure that we are all doing the best we can for those who matter most – the people of Bermuda.”
Friday’s representatives included:
Government
- Michael Fahy, Minister of Home Affairs, Chairman
- Mr. Randy Rochester, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs
- Mrs. Carlita O’Brien, Director, Department of Human Resources
Bermuda Trade Union Congress [BTUC]
- Mr. Ed Ball Jr, Bermuda Public Service Union
- Mr. D. Bhagwan, Bermuda Police Association
- Ms. Kevin Flood, Bermuda Police Association
- Mrs. Molly Burgess, Bermuda Industrial Union
- Mr. Mike Charles, Bermuda Union of Teachers
- Mr. Chris Furbert, Bermuda Industrial Union
- Mr. Kevin Grant, Bermuda Public Service Union
- Mr. Scott Turner, Prison Officers Association
Employers:
- Mr. Dennis Fagundo, Bermuda Chamber of Commerce
- Mr. Keith Jensen, Bermuda Employers Council
Bermuda Hotel Association:
- Mr. John Harvey
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Perhaps they can discuss illegal strikes. That would be a good starting point.
It takes a Revolution to make a Solution
To much confusion so much frustration
Bob Marley
kum by ya my lord! we need stability! not stubborn dismissive managers and knee jerk self destructive unions! and lets not forget, intoxicated Chamber executives! KUM BY YA
Looks a bit heavy on the union side. Then again that’s what unions do, have meetings, cause trouble, disrupt transport.
Oh you forgot, fight for decent wages to compete with high prices, maternity leave, negotiate with employers who abuse their employees, pensions, etc, etc.
With the mentality you have its a mockery using a name like Frederick Douglas, you should be using a name like David Duke.
I hope they discussed all the matters so when summer comes there will be no strikes etc.
Here, here!
Well don’t start no sh1t wont be no sh1t.
In the absense of longterm vision and planning for the last 20 years
radical elements are taking over in Bermuda.
The leadership in commerce and goverment have no backbone to counter and or challenge their doing.
Not a pretty picture!
Must read for all employers and anti-Union detractors-History of the Bermuda Industrial Union & Labour on the March.
if this is indeed ‘for those who matter the most’, this as of yet, remains to be seen.
amongst the first of the ‘hard decisions’ made, was to break the platform promise concerning term limits. prc prices saw a dramatic drop and another platform promise needed to be switched, the gambling referendum conspiracy, how about jet gate, in complete defiance of protocol, all the trips, prayer breakfasts, inaugural launch partys, etc…all in the name of ‘jobs for bermudians’
even bill has caught the catch phrase of the day concluding his press release with the all popular words, to justify whatever comes before them;
‘most importantly for jobs for bermudians’.
remember the wording of the referendum? if you are for legalizing gambling…and ‘jobs for bermudians’ or something like that.
it is now also applied to fahy’s new baby- commercial immigration.
using these catch phrases too often deteriorates their significance.especially if the correlation is not evident.
being as this collaboraton is specifically addressing this area of concern clearly, we will give it a chance.
for now, its just more meetings for highly paid, already working individuals.
Since the BIU has a strong hold within our communities (believe it or not) why dont they promote love and unity. Not hate and frustration. Now thats a great starting point! Just a suggestion.
i think the former employee at the chamber should promote love and unity not hate
what of the bta? the bha is there.
wasn’t bill trying to whip us into shape, about the importance of jobs for bermudians, by pointing out the concern of potential investors the other day?
I agree with Frederick Douglass that there are a lot of union representatives, so the question begs, where are the representatives of all sectors of the Chamber of Commerce?
The CoC represents many different types of companies, many different sizes of companies (number of employees), overall expenses, etc., The Chamber could not possible see itself having collective representation by two persons when there could be fundamental differences based upon a few companies’ and/or each sector’s economic realty.
So again, the question is, where are the sectors’ chairmen, not just the overall chairman of CoC?
Let’s look at it from a different perspective, international investors are very nervous about walk-outs, labour disruptions and general strikes. When they are investing in excess of $200M to build a new hotel, any labour dispute can cost millions in the disappearing waste and idleness, and that could spell disaster. If we do not get the formula right, Bermuda could be in the economic wilderness for a very long time.
The Bermuda Chamber of Commerce must work, act and present itself in a more united, coordinated and inclusive manner. Put your sector representatives at the table, use all your brain-power and harness a productive, transparent relationship with union counterparts.
Unless Bermuda stops projecting and baiting adversarial labour relationships, it will fail to manifest itself in economic growth. Your headlines, international credit reporting agencies and site visits will encourage investors to commit and make substantive investments – labour disputes will kill it.
Unions are NOT the enemy, NOR is the Chamber, but the Chamber needs to step up and transform…
London, England
“where are the representatives of all sectors of the Chamber of Commerce?”
They were probably working. Companies don’t have surplus people like the Government or Unions to send off here & there for meetings with little chance of meaningful reults.
What a bunch of crap ,I’m tired of the boogieman tactics of international investors being nervous, if that’s the case there would be no investors anywhere. There are labor disputes in every country around the world almost every year especially England.
Keep up the great work Minister Fahy!
EXECELLENT……..so we are going to “TRY” and Suck Blood Out of a Stone EH!.Yes sir,we are again going to show WHITEY WHO IS BOSS,and just borrow another $300Million dollars per year to help pay ourselves.
Don’t know what we are going to do with those 8,000 on the Public Payroll at only $750,000,000.00 dollars per year.
Don’t know what we are going to do about that $2,324,000,000,000.00 Billion Dollar “DEBT” that we are paying $120,000,000.00 million in interest each year,thats about $10Million per month.
The OBA are for the people,the old govt were for themselves!