Govt, BIU Hold Meetings After Ferry Suspension
[Updated: Government ferry service were suspended until 12 noon today as workers downed tools over a dispute involving disciplinary action against a member of Marine and Ports staff.
Government said the "wildcat strike "left thousands of commuters and visitors, including the passengers on two ships in Dockyard, inconvenienced.
Senior Government technical officers convened an emergency meeting with members of the BIU late this afternoon, and the discussions were said to be “healthy and productive.]
All ferry services have been suspended this morning [June 19], with the complete details unclear at this time. The Transport Ministry has confirmed that all ferry services are suspended, and unofficial reports indicate it may be some form of protest by the workers. Bernews will update with additional information as able.
Update 9.00am: Further details are still sketchy, but unofficial reports continue to indicate it is a protest by workers, possibly in support of a fellow worker who was disciplined.
Update 9.34am: The Transport Ministry advised that the Dockyard – St. George’s – Dockyard [Orange Route] which is operated by the chartered Millennium Ferry, is on schedule today.
Update 11.36am: A Transport Ministry spokesperson confirmed that all Government ferry services will resume by 12 noon when the first departure from Hamilton is scheduled.
Update 11.54am: A spokesperson for the Ministry of Tourism Development and Transport said that the work stoppage by Marine and Ports staff this morning was “unwarranted and an inconvenient disruption for thousands of residents who depend on a reliable ferry service to get to work and to get their children to school and visitors who utilise this amenity to enhance their vacation experience.”
“The work stoppage relates to an ongoing disciplinary action against a member of Marine and Ports staff in relation to a very serious incident involving two Bermuda Industrial Union staff members.
“The disciplinary process and investigation is still ongoing and no decisions have been made on what disciplinary action will be taken.
The spokesperson said: “The decision to down tools this morning was entirely premature and there is no justification for doing so. Thousands of commuters and visitors, including the passengers on two ships in Dockyard, have been left inconvenienced by this wildcat strike.
“This is extremely damaging to Bermuda’s reputation and these sorts of disruptions cannot be allowed to continue.”
Update 5.32pm: Secretary to the Cabinet, Dr. Derrick Binns along with other senior Government technical officers convened an emergency meeting with members of the BIU late this afternoon.
“During the meeting it was agreed that a more constructive protocol centering around solution-oriented communication is established with a view to significantly reducing work stoppages, particularly as it relates to Government’s public transportation and other crucial Government services,” a Government spokesperson said.
Following the meeting, Dr. Binns said discussions were “healthy and productive and we expect that the steps taken and protocols agreed will minimize service disruptions in the future”.
Update 6.46pm: BIU President Chris Furbert said, “The workers at Marine & Ports downed tools for a couple of hours this morning as they were under the impression that their Divisional President had been given a Stage Four [IV] Warning [Suspension or Dismissal] for his involvement in an incident on the job.
“However, after speaking to the Director of Marine & Ports, I was informed that no final decision had been made in this matter. Once this was reported to the workers they returned to work.
Mr. Furbert added, “Additionally, the workers at Marine & Ports are concerned about the internal audit that is being carried out in their department. The Union has written to Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Derrick Binns, requesting an update.”
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- Despair | Bermuda Blue | June 19, 2014
Whan will transport be made an essential service?
Soooo, as much as I am NO fan of these work stoppages/strikes, transport should not be made an essential service. Please have a look at what are listed as essential services and you will see that they all relate to health, safety and security. As annoying as it is, being able to catch a ferry does not fall into that category. Minister Fahy hasn’t been pushing for a change either….
It is an essential service. End of.
Just because you don’t use it
How would you know if he uses the ferry or not? It’s a convenient service NOT an essential service. End of.. Lol
It is essential for people to get to work— or would the union like to foot people’s taxi bills? Public transport is not as essential as health, police, fire … However they are essential to the running of the country. NO workers should be allowed to take industrial action without proper notice (and public advisory)
So privatise it then.
If you say it is not an essential service, then close it down. Costing Taxpayer money.
Private firms can take it up if they want
OK, if it is not essential, then shut it down, it is costing the country money.
Problem solved !
Any need will be met by licenced private craft
See, one of these posts is not essential, so it can be deleted.
when workers rely on public transport to maintain their current employment, it becomes an essential service.
also, tourism is struggling as it is. every time we have another last minute strike, we damage our reputation further. losing what little tourist goodwill we have is something our Island cannot afford, and therefore reliable public transport becomes an essential service.
If the guy used his position in the union to cause a withdrawal of service, when no decision had been made on action for his misconduct, then surely this is another misconduct on top by him. Tell us the facts Furbert. I want to know.
If it isn’t an essential service then let’s shut the whole thing down (making all of the workers redundant) and have someone with deep pockets run transportation as a private business. that’s probably what it best for Bermuda.
Until you finally figure out the high fare would have to be risen to for a private organization to be a profitable organization. Also there’s nothing stopping workers from a private organization going on strike either. Or are you under the impression that only government workers are able to strike?
well said TST.
If a private comnpany were to have as little control over it’s employees as Marine and Ports has they would have their contract terminated. Yes, the workers are allowed Union representation. Strikes over drunk pilots and rumours of disciplinary actions would result in mass unemployment.
Privatisation for transport services does not mean that everyone with a boat can start ferrying tourists around, it will likely still be a Government contract that is awarded after a tendering process. The fiasco yesterday would result in a fine for the ferry operators, or in a new tender request being issued.
Some o the folks that work for these essential services you mention use public transport to get to work. No transportation = no essential services.
When your 10 year daughter is stranded at school in December when its dark by 5:30pm and has no way to get home in Somerset because these selfish idiots decided to down tools without notice, you will understand how essential it is. I’ve lived that horror with my child.
Or when your 76 year old neighbour is stranded and waiting at the bus stop in the rain with her bag of groceries , unaware that these selfish fools decided to down tools AGAIN, you will see how essential the service is.
I told you it was a big mistake not naming a National Hero this year!
we had teddy but…i guess…well, im sure u can figure it out…
k
And we wonder why very few people have 1 ounce of respect for the BIU. A union that cant seem to run a profitable business themselves, was 11 years behind on their financials and is on a power trip.
Its been almost three years since I’ve been to Liberty Theatre or purchased Gas at their station or tuned into Hott 1075. I know a few of these business are not BIU owned but they are not unionized themselves and therefore unaffected by their own strikes – and the rental income from these businesses also support Furbert and Company.
Since the BIU are abusing their right to strike and damaging our reputation as a premier tourist destination, the OBA should make buses and ferries an essential service so that if the BIU wants to strike they have to give the public a notice first.
This way the BIU can get the message across and have any issues sorted out before the strike even takes place.
The BIU are damaging our tourist product and our reputation with these strikes without notice.
Unacceptable behaviour. Wildcat strike.
Second strike in two days on zero notice. Too bad the government withdrew the mandatory notice law – maybe they should reintroduce it so that everyone who paid for and relies on public transport can actually get the service.
Blah blah blah – same comments from Govt. for every wildcat strike…. yet wildcat strikes continues to happen………..what are you going to do about it? I believe this is what “we” the people really want to know.
I’ll refrain pending details.
Apparently a worker was disciplined. Let loose the hounds….
When will government take action with the unions that benefits the rest of us?
Millenium route unaffected…solution obvious.
EXACTLY!! PRIVATIZE IT!! The writing is on the wall people…don’t be too stupid to read it.
Then if felt unfairly, take it to the employment tribunal. If it was unfair then resolution will be met. Don’t take it out on the rest of the country.
It should be a 24hr notice! Suspending services all the time doesn’t resolve anything. Sooo ridiculous.
How do you know the dept didn’t get a 24 hour notice? Oh, because they didn’t tell important you?
If there giving 24 hour notice then the people of Bermuda should be informed about it. Were the ones relying on the transport for work not the employees. Its ridiculous to just go on strike when so many people rely on these services for work. Government workers, enough said.
That would be the departments job to inform the public, but as we all know they are slow on the uptick as well.
Peek-a-boo PLP, I see you…
if we the people pay you we need to know either you are working or not! PERIOD!
Not negotiable either!
It wouldn’t have been breaking news if they had!
industrial action solves everything….that is why it keeps happening…
Everything? Wrong. The affects on our tourism product are not solved.
If it solved everything it wouldn’t keep happening…over an over and over.
Ridiculous statement Rhonda.
This is exactly why no tourist want to come here get it the hell together people have to go work!!
Hurry up and privatize. Done with this bull.
It is so obvious that this is a trap, the BIUplp want the OBA to declare transportation an essential service so that they can march in the streets and create social unrest. It is all the leadership of the PLPbiu know, and unfortunately their followers are easy to manipulate.
I would do the opposite, not create an essential service but legislate that taxis, mini buses and ocean taxis can charge a minimal fee during the hours of 8-9 am and 5-6 pm. simply move forward and allow other Bermudians to cash in on the situation.
It is an essential serivce, otherwise let’s not bother with it. Scrap it completely. Then we won’t have the issues, and the people to go on strike.
No ferries, then ……………
Let Private business establish a ferry service to meet needs. Govt can just regulate licences and perform periodic quality and safety checks on the ferries.
The union needs to go
Union is a slow acting poison.
Bunch of J****$$**. You have jobs and know how to abuse them.
Possibly the “head” is having problems?
Son all ready for his class ferry trip to Dockyard this morning – now to tell him he can’t go now.
That sucks. Sorry to hear that.
The Captain and owner of the tour boat Reef Explorer are the true spirit of Bermuda. The Ferries left a group of school children on the dock who had planned an outing in Dockyard. Reef Explorer shuttled all of them too Dockyard at no cost(?) Kudos to Reef Explorer!
@2013 do you really think that is why tourists are not coming here? oh please, Other countries strike more than Bermuda. Maybe tourists are not coming here because of our bad service, lack of Bermudian entertainment,lack of night life, no gambling, over priced everything, no bath/changing rooms/food facilities on all beaches, or not seeing locals serving them in restaurants who they can learn about Bermuda from. Maybe that is why tourists are not coming here, but it is certainly not because of a ferry delay or strike!
Do you think these wildcat strikes help our tourism product?
it makes us look like a Banana Republic. Children missed school trips and had exams disrupted on the s***y wild cat strike on Tuesday – they are now impoverishing their own children/ people.
Grow up. If you destroy your country to get back into power you end up with a Banana Republic. Leave the potheads in the past and catch-up.
Bermuda deserves better.
Bermudian entertainment…give me a break!
And restaurants, last thing i need are surly Bermudian staff
You’ve been going to the wrong restaurants mate
You been to 1609 yet? Prime example of good and bad.
Not yet, but want to check it out soon. Some restaurants have left a lot to be desired when it comes to customer service, but others have been surprisingly pleasant.
So, expat table staff very attentive, efficient and polite, Bermudian bar staff surly and slow.
Not true. There are plenty of both types in each category.
this is 2014 we have big cruise ship in dockyard tourist have no ferry to go to st.george a town that needs their dollars can’t get to Hamilton.and we are trying to get the new rccl ship to come here in 2016
sometimes they need to just think first before they take stupid action
keep this up and next year those ships will head to Bahamas or anywhere else in the carribean
no one is saying that workers should give up their rights
but labour disputes need to be handled in a more responsible way
Let’s just say if my cruise wasn’t already paid for I would not be visiting Bermuda again until they decide to get their acts together. You have a beautiful island but if we cannot count on the bus and ferry system, especially after we PAY FOR THE SERVICES, why should we return? I have been telling everyone that Bermuda is my favorite island to visit……I am quickly changing my mind. Maybe we’ll just plan to stay right there in the dockyard this time and not bother to spend any money in Bermuda. You obviously do not care about your own people let alone your visitors.
Don’t you think that wilcat strikes aren’t interpreted as unreliable and bad service. When you with someones vacation, they don’t forget it.
Fire them all. Every single last one of them.
Hire expats.
Hey Sandgrowan if you live in the US. Do me a favour and go rob someones house.
Fire them all.
Dumbest comment of the day.
Which one of your comments exactly are you referring to?
Where’s Ronald Reagan when you need him?
yeah remember that? he wasn’t playing, was he?
Thank god my income is not tied to Bermuda…Love working from home on a global scale… No worries about ferries or buses. make the conditions right for the workers and you will never have these problem…
Dummy. That is how we got here (giving the workers what they want)in the first place. The services are not sustainable and are heavily subsidized by the taxpayer including people like you!
Privatize the transport services – buses and ferries. As a taxpayer I object to paying for these terrible services. Let the BIU operate and finance these losers.Enough already.
You know when the “All Ferrys Cancelled” sign is laminated it’s used all too often
Brilliant response Tree Frog!
Love that comment! Something to lighten the mood a bit!!
Mike to the rescue! Can you hear the Bottom Feeders now!
Boring!
Utter nonsense!! Fire the whole lot. They don’t deserve the privilege of gainful employment!!
Bring in the contractors – Ferries and all. Privatize all public transport services and let government regulate the price and requirements for operations.
essentialize it
I heard the action came after a “worker” was “disciplined”.
Usual effing story. God, I hate unions.
so why is the Rev Tweed, getting involved in politics ? and is Doc Brown , going to replace the current leader of the PLP ?
Margaret Thatcher had the right idea of how to deal with the Unions. The iron glove as opposed to the velvet one. This type of behaviour is commensurate with a banana republic.
@ Expat renegade,
Margaret Thatcher was a person who supported the oppressive South African Government, so understand that everyone does not see her in the same light as you. Some are happy she is dead!
What’s your point, people have differing opinions on national heros and all sorts of stuff. Inorder to be oppressed someone must be getting the stuff denied to those being oppressed. Life really. Humans been doing this for longer than slavery. Its the selfishness that religions talks about that is ingrained in what we call being human. Learned at birth and the whole time the child is with the parents cryin for milk, to be cleaned and etc.. Untill the devils are cast out of the child they grow up to be wicked. Hence today’s soceity.
LOL
This is great news for me. I have my 110′ yacht anchored in parasite lakes and every time a ferry goes past there is so much wake created that it causes the small tender to my big tender to rock all over the place. The longer the ferry services are suspended, the better. I am considering buying Marine and Ports so that I can pay the employees not to operate the ferry service. I do noy like the wake that the ferries create.
Yes I agree Commodore. The ferry wake can disturb a perfect fine cooler of Amsterdam Larger, disrupting a fine yachting experience in parasite lake.
There has got to be some kind of consequence for this type of work stoppage because they have the union to represent them in a dispute and they should allow the process to work. Even if a worker was unfairly disciplined they should be calling the union to deal with it! Stopping work is meant to be a last resort but if stopping first ends up getting workers the desired result it will continue! It is only the public who are not party to the dispute that ends up suffering! There has got o tbe a better way!
Oh well. Let’s see what kind of entertaining story Chris will tell us today. Lets spin the wheel of discipline and guess what today’s action will be about. 1:Taking sick leave, 2:Being drunk on the job, 3:Inappropriate behavior towards passengers.
Pick your number and good luck!
How aboput a class action lawsuit from those affected against the union????
It’s going to be a long hot summer, hold on to your hats because this is the calm before the storm.
Sad!
Now would be a good time to hv more ferry taxis.
Are you people sure this isn’t a health or safety problem that the ferries are not running,for the passenger safety
Lol. It’s never about the publics safety
Public health? How about when the bathrooms on the ferry went out of service for aaaagggeeesss and never got fixed? Nuffin. These lot wrongfully heard about a colleague being disciplined and like spoiled little children in walmart who have been told to put tge candy bar back, they throw themselves on the floor and have a temper tantrum. Fire them all and hire people who are out of work and desperate to feed their families.
Public Transport and the BIU… what a bunch of rectal openings!
Haaaaaaa! Good one
The other day I paid for a taxi to get to work on time. I have a bus pass, how sad! Wish I never paid ahead of time for this bull.Never no notice, no buses, and never no ferry’s..
Did the taxi get to to work on time?
i agree , because of strikes i stopped buying bus passes. since which , I have hired a driver who is extremely reliable. I pay him 100 dollars a week and my problems are solved.Also i get to help a fellow bermudian who is going through a hard time
It is an essential service. If all the workers and kids who take the bus and ferries to get to school and work, the roads would be even more conjested. Also its not fair to the tourists….. I would be pissed if I was a tourist wanting to go somewhere and they cancel the ferries and buses….
This is so wrong to not even have any notice, as parents have to find alternative ways to get their kids to school and get theirselves to work….
GOVERNMENT…. please help solve this situation and quickly
When the OBA delayed the debate on the Bill about Essential Services (Public Transport) we knew the delay would lead to what is taking place now.And it was never fully explained what these outstanding issues were. It was a delaying tactic by the Union to get one more chance to be disruptive, and so I am not a bit surprised.
The members want govt and employers to follow the rules to the letter but constantly and continually break the rules themselves.
OBA,grow some balls!
Regarding the photo, it would be interesting to know why credit cards are not accepted. Do the ferry staff only trust cash?
Maybe they don’t want to purchase a POS-terminal for that location
Too confusing for the gummint verkers to figure out and much harder to skim credit card payments than it is to skim cash.
This is the reason the government would rather lease the millennium forever than to buy it and have these jack**** hijack OUR maritime operations.
#smartmove
Only read a few comments above to be honest.
OPPERATION PRESSURE COOKER.
Part 7. Section 1 (a).
A great day to all.
This is just a survey question, but how many ppl out there would like to see another union established. One that is operated more professionally and represents the working class off ALL ages? Just a question so no need to send any nasty comments. lol
What message is the Government, the Opposition and the Union sending our children? You can do what you want and there will be no consequences to your actions! If someone does try to discipline you they are wrong and we will fight for you! Why does the world have so many problems? Lack of discipline! Wake up Bermuda! Common sense must prevail.
Why all you negative anti-empolyee bloggers don’t get mad at the managers, PS’s and Ministers that are charge and cause all the effin disruptions??!?!?
All of you need to take your heads out of your rectums and just think maybe just maybe the bossess need to step up to the darn gone plate….oggghhh
Poor decision making seems to be the norm of Businesses these days and who has to take all the critisism…hello!!…the front line workers!!…while they sit in boardrooms sipping on coffee makinga a$$ backward decisions.
If my boss didnt make a decision on something, or made a wrong decision of which I didnt like and I walked off the job and went home, I wouldnt have a job tomorrow. Stop whinning and get ya a$$ back to work.
Come out of your mental slavery…today
Just because your head’s in that space doesn’t mean everyone else is
Why should we get mad at other YunYun managers? In this case the emoployees took it upon themselves to walk off the job after they INCORRECTLY determined that an employee was being disciplined.
MORE telling though is this statement by the leader of the BIU:
“Mr. Furbert added, “Additionally, the workers at Marine & Ports are concerned about the internal audit that is being carried out in their department. ”
So, the workers don’t like anyone telling them what to do or having people check on them, so they walk off the job? How is this in any way the right thing? It simply ISN’T. The fact that you are unable to see that means you feel that anarchy should exist in a public service organisation.
Go have your coffee. Your not thinking straight. Lol
Would it not be easier just to let us know when the bus and ferries ARE operating?
(1) Govt should suspend ferry services indefinitely
(2) Make M&P staff redundant
(3) Sell the fleet to whomever wants it
privatizing bdas amenities may increase the standard of services that we all want as paying patrons, also it may be a godsend to a few of us to purchase these public transpo vehicles to provide and profit from and to be successful and upgrade our lives…but then do YOU have the money to own n operate n maintain these “essential” services..? coz i know that I don’t…so my life won’t improve much…mr.wealthy guy though, on the other hand…huh? if you cannot see…i cannot help you.
jus as i figured…more blind than i hoped…
Pretty soon it will not matter as clearly the BIU/PLP Commissariat resrt the date to Zero Hours – so that a few fat cronies can have it all, or at least what is left.
At least the US ferry was operating. Well that always operates.
only coz wer payin her…stop paying her,and watch her sail off into the horizon.
Ever heard of cutting off your nose to spite your face? You won’t have a job to walk out from soon if you keep up with these wildcat antics. It blows my mind that people are so uneducated as to not understand that everything is connected. Industrial action leads to economic concern, tourists staying away, expats leaving, then SURPRISE!… less need for services…..and LESS JOBS as a result! Supporting your fellow staff member if you feel that they have been unfairly treated is great. Go by them a beer and help them file their appeal like the rest of the employed world has to do when they have a grievance. Supporters of this type of behaviour say that we just “don’t understand the conditions”. Perhaps that is true – but you will never garner support from the masses with these types of actions. Here’s an idea – try following procedure to get your voice heard. If your complaint is legitimate you might be surprised at the support you get from the public. But by acting as you currently are, all you get is anger and frustration and in the end no one cares what the problem is – they just know that they were held hostage with disdain by unionized staff who use their power to bully management/government into getting what they want. Not to mention the hundreds of unionized workers who don’t agree with this behaviour, but are intimidated into staying away from work. Been there, lived it. I’ll bet the majority of the workers have absolutely no idea of the facts of this particular case – they were just ordered to stay home in support.
Remember – Bermuda is only a dot on the map – please try not to obliterate us. Look at the big picture please!
Well penned and quite relevant.
it is…too late.
On the scene at Marine & Ports this morning cups of coffee could be seen strewn everywhere. What happened you ask? The workers downed tools.
you definitely lived up to your name on this one…
Don’t pay them! End of story. If this Government doesn’t hold persons accountable then there will never be an end to this unethical behaviour.
yeah..? but isn’t that similar to discipline..? you know , the root cause of this action..
UNION NEEDS TO SHOVE IT…SERIOUSLY!? THIS IS PATHETIC BERMUDA… NO WONDER TOURISM SUCKS !!! IGNORANT BERMUDIANS
IGNORANT
IGNORANT
IGNORANT
These lots were just on strike in April! Go back to work and do your damn job!
and your job is?….am i paying you?…now get back to work or I will fire you!
So you can’t discipline someone? Union can go and F*** ***. Wrong is wrong on either side but I would play my cards with the employer in this case. Just another excuse by Commandant Furburt and his cronies to disrupt us THE PEOPLE of Bermuda
Far too much of this crap! “Public Services” holding the “Public” hostage! Why can’t any dispute be dealt with in a more considerate manner as oppose to downing tools
Can’t you that down your tool acknowledge, “you are only cutting off your nose to spite your face”?
just wish there was some way we the working general public could down tools to disrupt the union? Wish I joe blow BERMUDIAN mr public could sue the union for incompetence and loss of time and wages thanks to their actions.
Here Here!!
The BIU is playing both OBA & PLP like a puppet. They are pulling the strings and seeing how high they can get both party’s to jump… Grow some balls and stand up to them. Walk down to M&P and give them 2 chooses : you going to work OR there is the door. Same with the buses.
The great president Ronald Regan did it 20 years ago .. Fire them all.
We will recover and be a better BDA !!!!
Nothing seems to unite a lot of Bermudians like a mutual hatred of the BIU and their childish antics. Break the union
FIRE and CLOSE the Bermuda Government Ferries down!
anyone see the Private Millenium ferry on strike….hmmm.
Dr. Binns, don’t be so dopey and believe that the Union will now abide by the steps taken and protocols agreed at your emergency meeting in an attempt to minimize service disruptions in the future. When was the last time the Union abided by protocols and steps in their industrial disputes?
Solution to the problem: Privatise PTB and Marine and Ports. First dibs should go to the BIU. Government should give them 3 years to operate the businesses and after that time it goes back out to bid. Or we simply let the rules of free enterprise prevail. We would all win. The Union knows their workers. The expertise and knowledge would remain. The government pays a subsidy to ensure that all school routes and schedules remain in place. That’s my vote: Privatise.
the biu is like the plp..a dinosaur and like the dinosaur they will soon be extinct!
They downed tools because they were under the incorrect impression someone was being suspended! You have got to be kidding! I am under the correct impression that they are all a bunch of idiots! Is it worth risking the cruise ships going somewhere else next season over an impression. The cruise ships are under the impression that Bermuda doesn’t care about their passengers. Heads must roll over this. The BIU is way out of line here and Government must put a stop to this ignorance! Does anyone at the BIU have any common sense?
Common sense and the BIU does not go in the same sentence..what a bunch of idiots..
You hear the same BS everytime they stop work. They are acting like spoiled kids,when they don’t get their way. And when the final nail has been put in Bermudas coffin and no one wants to come and visit here,those same fools will be the first ones crying and of course blaming the Government..all I can say is keep it up and soon the negative effects will get worse and worse..
Privatize ferry and busses! The private firms can rehire the responsible former civil servants who were not downing tools for every miniscule matter and give the boot to the wild cat strikers! No vacancy for you! They can march all they want, heck, they can even swim, bunjee jump till the cows come home, won’t matter! Keep taunting the people of Bermuda with your destructive actions….. “United you stand”? Yeah sure…”United you stand”…ALONE.
I totally agree…Bottom-line,”privatize” ferry & bus services.
hows the saying go…”stand up for your rights and get knocked down for your ignorance”…
Make the BIU pay back the previous bond money, then they’ll be broke and their own workers would be demanding that Chris bring back all he’s taken. PHC should do the same. Govt should make them follow the agreement that was put in place when they couldn’t pay the bond. The union and workers need to be held accountable for their unwarranted sit outs , and time off the job should not be paid time.
Grievance procedures exist for a reason.
For the workers to simply walk off the job without going through that process makes a complete mockery of the entire union contract (although it appears that only management is expected to follow that).
On a related topic, the union was let off the hook for the Berkeley bond on the condition that they give notice of any strike action. Can we have our $16 million dollars now?
This has gone beyond disruption of service, this is an act of stupidity against Bermuda by the BIU and its thin skinned members. Who called this terror like strike,,NAME HIM OR HER NOW!! We all want to know who were the 2 at the center of this matter and what was the cause. Or are they (thin skinned BIU)to embarrassed to bring this stupid reason to the surface ! I am a Bermudian CITIZEN ,,one of many who have had enough of the uncaring shameful shameful BIU !!!!!!
Where do the “People’s Campaign” stand on this ? Where is their commentary on wildcat striking that affects all the ordinary people of Bermuda ?
They’re too busy trying to stop PRC’s from obtaining basic human rights. There name should be changed to the “Some People’s Campaign”
It is actions such as this that make me realize that Bermudians haven’t had it bad enough yet. After the PLP reign of terror, the recession, mass unemployment, foreigners doing our menial jobs – Bermudians are still willing to strike as if they are re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
I suspect therefore that things for Bermuda will get alot worse before getting better. if they ever get better.
With ignorant people doing things such as this – we have little hope.
Message to OBA: Grow a pair very soon! Deal with these A-Holes.
So they went on strike due to a mistake. This is exactly the reason why wildcat strikes should be banned.
By the way Chris, it wasn’t just a “couple of hours”. It was all day until noon. About 6 ‘working’ hours. Get a watch.
If you don’t want to work…at your saleries?!…..fine…no problem…..go the hell home…stay there…..give your job to me,i can operate any vessel safely and probably better in the first place!…
you over rev the engines too soon after starting!….and you accelerate too fast…..you risk twisting the shaft box ,linckage or break away mounts…….when you stop fast you are supposed to go nuetral….then reverse….the rev not a to b and full throttle!
At this point, the head of the BIU is due a name-change. He’s certainly earned it.
Mr. Furburt aka Cmdr. FUBAR.
Notice how Mr. Furbert throws in “Additionally, the workers at Marine & Ports are concerned about the internal audit that is being carried out in their department. The Union has written to Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Derrick Binns, requesting an update.”
This proves even he believes these actions were bull****. Trying to use other excuses that still doesn’t add up to a proper reason for the actions they took.
More and more Bermudians are tired of this and the Union is losing any support outside their little circle that is growing smaller and smaller. Please union workers think first for ALL Bermuda. The public id growing tired of irresponsible actions affecting ALL on this Island.
Come on ferry captains, you can make a decision to work. This bowing to group pressure has to stop. Out of ? number of qualified helpers you couldn’t keep the service running? The Warwick route only needs a captain and 1 crew….
As far as the captain of the Rockaway commuter ferry yesterday, using the throttle in no wake zone did have repercussions.