A Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) official has lamented a series of recent strikes by members of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), warning that the demonstrations were "unreasonable" and would not "benefit anyone".
BCCEC CEO Edison Sumner claimed that the strike was not in the best interests of the country and warned both employers and employees to reach a solution quickly to avoid harm to the country's already fragile economy.
"It's unfortunate that the TUC has taken the decision that they have to put their members on strike alert... Taking a strike at this point in time, especially given the economy when we're in a fragile position, we don't see how it's going to be beneficial to employers and workers... It's not going to benefit anyone," said Sumner.
He added that the BCCEC was in talks with employers and extended an offer to mediate the dispute and bring it to an end swiftly.
"We understand the plight of the worker. Even though the chamber is the representative body for the employer...we acknowledge that workers ought to be protected, respected and treated fairly by employers.
"Everyone needs to get back to the table with the government to discuss their concerns and try to get them resolved... If they need the chamber to assist them in mediation, we're very open to do so and bring resolution to their outstanding disputes," stated Sumner.
TUC President Obie Ferguson called on workers across the country to go on strike earlier this week after months of threatening to take action, claiming that the congress had given the government ample time to address the unions' concerns.
"The employers cannot say that the Trade Union Congress and its affiliates have not been reasonable. We have been in talking since 2011 and 2009, in some cases," said Ferguson.
Workers within various groups, including Customs and Immigration, Water & Sewerage Corporation (WSC) and the Bahamas Nurses Union BNU), took action yesterday over various disputes regarding pensions, employment contracts, shifts and payment issues.
Minister of Labour Shane Gibson had earlier warned against any demonstrations, claiming that they would be illegal according to the Industrial Relations Act (IRA).
A press release issued yesterday by the Ministry of Labour further stressed that Section 77 (1) of the IRA prohibited unions from calling strikes due to trade disputes "while proceedings taken in relation to that dispute are pending before the Tribunal or the Court of Appeal".

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