‘Consider Future As You Contemplate Joining’
The BTUC said they support the “call for a comprehensive review of immigration in Bermuda” and “urge our members to consider carefully the future of our island home, as they contemplate their decision to join any effort to lobby Government.”
The BTUC consists of multiple unions including the Bermuda Industrial Union, Bermuda Public Services Union, Bermuda Union of Teachers, Electrical Supply Trade Union, Bermuda Federation of Musicians & Variety Artists, Bermuda Fire Services Association, and the Bermuda Prison Officers Association.
A statement from the Union said, “The issue of immigration reform is a matter of National significance. It is of utmost importance to the Bermudian people, and its effects will impact generations to come.
“The controversy surrounding the proposed Immigration Bill is not a labour issue. Nonetheless, immigration policy does affect our membership.
“The Bermuda Trade Union Congress supports the call for a comprehensive review of immigration in Bermuda.
“We urge our members to consider carefully the future of our island home, as they contemplate their decision to join any effort to lobby Government on this issue of national importance.”
I bet Chris Furbert still getting paid , you will not……keep staying out and see who pays your bills. Did you consider your future when the previous government spent all the money? Did you protest then? Please advise what you received for your two billion dollar debt. I’ll wait.
Sounds like Union is saying get back to work, as this really has nothing to do with the union business…
Nope…I think the BTUC is trying to justify why they’re all on strike when it doesn’t relate to the unions. “The controversy surrounding the proposed Immigration Bill is not a labour issue. Nonetheless, immigration policy does affect our membership.”
In other words: We know it’s got nothing to do with us, but we don’t like the OBA, and want to fight against anything productive they try to do.
The debt was $1 billion when PLP left … BOB increased the debt in a short time to 2 billion. TAKE NOTE ISN’T THAT GREAT ACCOUNTING !!! BOB DOUBLED THAT IN SUCH A SHORT TIME not 14 years but just 2 years. Check the facts. Stop repeating the lie.
The debt was $0 when the PLP took over. It was $1.2 billion when the PLP left and that debt came from overspending. The OBA have had to borrow to make payroll and pay bills, not because of Beyoncé Concerts, parties, overspending on Berkley, trips, Faith Based Tourism, TCD, Cruiseship Pier, Port Royal GC, Fast Ferrys, Bda Housing Corp, There is also $800 million UNACCOUNTED for. FACT, there are only two explanations for the $800 million missing.
Either
a) It was stolen
b) The PLP did such a poor job governing when they took over that they really have no clue where it went.
Either way is that who you want governing this country again.
How else was he supposed to pay all the government workers when PLP had spent all the damn money? So would you have preferred that he not borrow money and just not pay people working in Government. What a stupid comment.
Did not all the government workers agreed to give up a days pay once a month? So government should have been saving some money and also if public transportation fees went up they have have been making somewhat of a profit. If 1000 Bermudians bought a bus pass monthly at $69 each month government made $69,000, now remember this is only for 1000 Bermudians. Now when you multiply that by 12 months government made $828,000, so government does make money, let’s not even talk about the people that pay traffic fines. So with the bus passes alone government should have profited. I’m not economist but common sense would have me to believe that if the product stays the same but the cost of the product goes up, you will make a profit. Correct me if I’m wrong.
1 billion in debt with a horribly unbalanced budget. Debt exponentially increases when you can’t pay it off.
and the PLP didn’t spend a billion in 14 years, don’t forget they started with a massive surplus. They threw away WAY more than a billion.
True – he had to pay all the government workers as well as service the debt the OBA inherited when they took office. Where was could he get the money to do that.
unfortunately this is the legacy of the PLP, try and deny it all you want but these are the facts.
The bloated civil service is unsustainable and we are running a deficit albeit a smaller deficit now. How did the civil service get bloated?
How did you expect BDA to pay for the current debt interest (service the debt)if the books are not balanced? Did you really expect that the 1 billion would stay that way with out making significant changes? The required changes are to cut costs significantly enough to balance the budget which includes serving debt.
You are definitely not an accountant so questioning the accounting makes you look uninformed as any accountant would be able to tell you this and any economist. So I would hate to rain on your parade but you are woeful out of touch. I would write in CAPs if that would help.
Well he only had 3 options. Borrow to pay the civil service, not pay the civil service or make redundancies in the civil service. Why was he only left with those 3 options? You won’t answer because your hate blinds you.
I would be very interested to hear from any people who belong to this union with regard to how they think giving status to PRC’s who have been here over 20 years will affect them in practical terms? Obviously they will not lose their jobs because these PRC’s already have jobs and so do the people who belong to this union. So I ask again how will it affect them?
So it’s ok with you that PRC’s have jobs, but our fellow Bermudians do not?
Unlike YOU people in cushy positions, bills all paid, mortgage/rent up to date and a full belly at night, maybe the members of the unions have compassion for others less fortunate!!!
Life sometimes is fair:
Is it fair that several Bermudians have professional football careers in the UK when several children born there do not?
Is it fair that several Bermudian athletes have gone on to work in Holland, US, Canada, Spain and Italy? Is it fair that each year several Bermudians get scholarships to attends schools, colleges and University in the US, Canada, and UK when those that have lived and paid taxes their who lives must pay?
Well verly quite a few of the PRC’s I know are Doctors, Accountants etc. You can’t just kick them out and let Bermudians take their jobs.
Many expats and PRC’s are here because their companies set up shop here attracted by our low tax structure. If they leave Bermuda this will not open a job for a Bermudian because the employee will just go and do the same job in Zurich, Dublin or Cayman.
Personally I think the existing levels of unemployment HAVE to come down. We need to offer education and training but also the unemployed HAVE to take the jobs that are available.
So how exactly is this going to negatively impact Bermudians? Those PRC’s have been here for a long time because no Bermudians can (or will) do their jobs.
Why are there so many Bermudians unemployed since when the plp got in any Bermudian could have had 2 or 3 jobs if they wanted? I know you won’t answer that.
How does a change in the immigration law mean Bermudians are out of work?!! This is only affecting those people who ALREADY HAVE JOBS!!!! What part of that is not getting through? Taking away the possibility of PRC or Status is not going to free up these jobs for the unemployed Bermudians to take. SMH
consider my future when you have no REAL support for the minority that is represented.
where were all of you when the votes were being tallied for the last general election??????????
did you vote??????????
when all of the Bob Marley renditions are over, ask your followers this:
why do you not all march together for issues plaguing our island, like the rampant genocide happening on our streets?
why do you not all march about education and shut this b***h down for the real future of your children – an uneducated populace is easier lead by the so called saviours as is the case of the so called oppressors
the oppressors in my situation are my own Bermudian people who have not advanced past the mentality that labour is their best offence all whilst the self proclaimed scholars provide these emotive speeches and never qauntify their position as innovators but that of instigators, antagonists and false prophet advocaates.
for a populace who is unwilling to represent themselves in the first place – almost any emotive leader can take over.
it is similiar to the gang culture that has invasded or land – absent mothers and fathers, pervasive societal norms an insert the alure of drugs and utopia and BANG you havve a gang for those susceptible to such behaviour…….
there is a striking parallel here with alot of those who are marching:
what are they marching for?
can they tell you individually?
what is the collective response to same?
who is representing them as a collective?
the union says let your conscience be your guide – that is no security in that statement.
what arre we afraid of, if we had an inclusionary political party, these so alled new voters would not be a factor.
i remember “the people” being everyone but it seems like thre is a divisive motive to this movement and #IDONTLIKEIT
And by the way
I am:
BLACK
BERMUDIAN
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE
#BEENUNEMPLOYEDBEFOREDURINGAFTER ECONOMICPROBLEMS
HARDWORKING
WOULD DO ANY JOB NECESSARY TO SUPPORT MY FAMILY
NOT A LEMMING
NOT A SELLOUT
INTERESTED IN MY FUTURE
NOT INTERESTED IN THE GLAMOUR GRABBING BANDSTANDING “LEADERS” OF THE #OCCUPYPARLIAMENT MOB
What rampant genocide?
A guest worker is here for about 5 years initially, a renewal is based on the fact that there are no qualified Bermudians. In some cases I do not understand how a cleaner is here as long as 10 or 12 years, heading towards 20 years. Have Immigration been seriously diligent in vetting requests for renewals. It really becomes complicated for the Immigration, why not simply allow the employer to end one contract and bring in another guest worker, and then no guest worker reaches 10 to 15 years in this country.
I understand the rationale of the employers – take your hypothetical cleaner. Let’s assume that no Bermudians applied because of the unsociable hours. It costs money and takes time to find and relocate that person to Bermuda. After they are here there is always a risk they won’t work out for any number of reasons. To make an employer repeat that process every 5 years increases their cost of doing business, which has to be passed on to someone (customers).
@wondering. You are very right on many issues but as a rational thinking person would you prefer to drown or swim to safety. Bermuda is in trouble which will seriously affect our cultural heritage as well as our descendants. Critique all you will about past shortcomings but today stand up and support your familyou Bermuda. If you use the analogy of the status they will sink you way way back to the 1600s when land was being discovered and nations we being established. The politics here are very divisive and “feel the love” will not exist if you take it from the people through politricking.
There is such citizens from many countries living in Bermuda like those from the Philippines, Italy, Portugal, Canada, united States of America and the Caribbean and I am sure they never waffle on telling their descendents who and where they originate. Jews are proud to be jews, Italians are proud to be Italians and I am proud to be bermudian. Know who you are as they know who they are. A person from Canada who calls himself bermudian is a Canadian FIRST and that is said of all the expats that want another certificate under their belt. There is a definite lifeline that is there for them. My origins are HERE and running to the Ice lands of Europe are not an option.
I don’t follow your response.
I am rational thinking and I think that the Pathway to Status is flawed as much as I think the withdrawal of labour is equally as flawed.
But to be clear I’m not sure if you’ve understood my other post?
not really true. Americans and Canadians associate with being Italian, Greek, West Indian, Native American, African American etc…
So the certificate under the belt comment is meaningless and pointless . We all came form somewhere else before being Bermudian and Bermuda is a melting pot of cultures and will change over time as with any country. It is part of being global. I agree the poliitricking is not helping.
Pretty sure that a UK passport entitles you to work anywhere within the EU, and last time I checked, the Mediterranean was pretty warm. So, if you are so unhappy, I hear Italy is nice this time of year.
Try a capital B in Bermudian – and as you have nothing to offer Bermuda I doubt you’d be of any value to the Ice Lands.
@ confused.
I have actually worked internationally for over 25 years with great demand including many regions within Europe, Canada, the US and the Caribbean and have been greatly remunerated for my skillset. I am actually writing this from my mobile in transit, so I don’t need to vet or spell check for your individual benefit. It appears that you received the message so no more needs to be said. Again speak with intelligence otherwise everyone will know you are a fool.
It would be nice if you could add value to a conversation instead of just blurring out juvenile comments. It only takes an open mind to absorb knowledge and you can only repeat what you have been taught. “A mind is a terrible thing to waste” not my quote but I think it could explain why you are CONFUSED
This is an outright lie and I can prove it with your other comments, unless those are lies too. Also there is a reply button to every comment. You can press/click it and literally reply direct to their comment.
“We urge our members to consider carefully the future of our island home, as they contemplate their decision to join any effort to lobby Government on this issue of national importance.”
My understanding that Unions were originally formed approx. 150 years to represent the workers in regards to safer working conditions, long hours, low pay, child labour, health benefits etc. In this case it appears that the hierarchy of the BTUC are passing the proverbial buck to the members to strike illegally without taking any responsibility for it themselves. Sweet. This is a political issue not a grievance issue. Its a slippery slope when a political party, in this case the Opposition, can call on the Unions to strike. The withdrawal of essential services won’t affect the outcome of this immigration issue/legislation. It’s a done deal. As an unemployed/ barely self employed Bermudian still paying taxes, I don’t have the job security like those who may strike. You have a job to return to. No risk. No real financial pain. No real sacrifice… unlike those men and women 150 years ago who fought and in some cases died for a Union that provide you with that blanket of security you enjoy today. Please think when you consider going on strike. the disruption and effect on the struggling local businesses, our visitors spending money on our island, and the average citizen trying to earn a living and relies on your services/help to ‘stay afloat’ on this island we call home. I’ll be giving people lifts to work tomorrow morning and taking my trash to the dump.
Mobylette…I think they should hire you for these jobs. Clearly the people who currently have them don’t value them as much as they should. It’s a shame when they take this for granted when Bermudians such as yourself would love to have the kind of security that they have.
True That.
I understand we need foreign ppl in the island what I don’t understand is that the average qualified Bermudian who comes back from school with experience and can’t get a job in their qualified field.Is it because the business will hire foreigners so they can pay them less than the qualified Bermudian and this is what the young people are facing many of us are qualified to do a job that a foreigner may have but can’t get the job because they are on contract.So II’m just tired of ppl saying that bermudians aren’t qualified for these jobs and there are many who are qualified in various fields of work um just saying
What qualifications do these Bermudians have? Because there are many people I know of who have gone to university, and completed a generic degree, thinking it qualifies them to work in IB. However, many of these firms require specific degrees, with a minimum number of classes taken in specific areas. Problem is, many Bermudians don’t research that BEFORE choosing degrees, and are left with worthless pieces of paper when they get back to the island. I know many of the companies on the island are desperate for qualified Bermudians, and bend over backwards to try to make sure they have the qualifications necessary. So if any Bermudians are coming back, and struggling to find work, it’s probably because they haven’t bothered to figure out what specific qualifications are needed first.
You want to see a real exodus?
Keep pushing the anti expat button and continue trying to bring down the OBA.
I GUARANTEE you that there will be, firstly, a flight of capital & IB
This will result in default and lower res pop.
Then when things get really sticky the res pop will REALLY take a nose dive.
Bermudians by the thousand with no job prospects and unreliable pensions will head for Europe.
I feel sorry for the blue collar Bermudian workers, they are being fired up and totally played by some of the PLP and some hot headed extremists.
Guys, you are the ones who will suffer the most.
The Bermudian economy will be pretty well trashed.
Will it be like Haiti as some say?
No, but it will be one heck of a lot poorer and way more of a subsistence economy. Equate it to somewhere like a Bahamian out-Island.
If you are happy scratching a living then you will be cool. If not you will up-sticks and head off Island.
Like it or not, It is what it is.
I’m not trying to be facetious, this is what I truly believe would happen.
Peace out.