Despite increasing pressure from the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union (BEWU), Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) Executive Chairman Leslie Miller said his resolve will not bend and declared that if "we lose this battle, the country is going to lose the war".
Leaders of the BEWU engaged in its second day of work-to-rule yesterday over issues regarding the union's industrial agreement. BEWU President Paul Maynard claimed that Miller is unnecessarily blocking the process.
He warned that the union will continue to increase the pressure and said it will also take strike action if that becomes necessary.
Miller has called for the union to renegotiate some of the terms of its contract, but Maynard said as far as he is concerned "negotiations are over".
"He will sign the industrial agreement," Maynard said, referring to Miller. "Or he will wish he did."
When asked to expound on that, Maynard said, "You will see.
"We don't care about Miller's demands... He better hope that the union doesn't have to vote in 2017."
Maynard said the union will continue to engage in industrial action until the contract issues are resolved.
But Miller said he would also remain firm.
"BEC union has the Bahamian people between a rock and a hard place," he said. "We have to stand firm. I believe that if we lose this battle the country is going to lose the war.
"There's a point of saturation where there is just nothing left. In BEC there is nothing left. What is there? You lose $33 million, the local supplier is cutting you off. You can't pay for your fuel. You owe Shell West $130 million. You want more? Where is the money going to come from? What more do you want?"
The union and Miller are wrangling over several issues including demands regarding lump sum payments and rostering.
Maynard previously said Miller's call for the union to renegotiate is laughable considering that the union has already sat down with two government Cabinet ministers, a board member, two government labor negotiators, BEC's general manager and deputy general manager over the past three months and negotiated a six-year industrial agreement, at the request of the government.
Maynard said, "It was reviewed by the minister of labour and I informed him that I would have my membership ratify the agreement, which they did."
The union president claimed that Miller was invited to a meeting in the office of the deputy prime minister but did not attend.
The new contract, which the union wants retroactive to May 2012, would expire in 2018, according to Maynard.
However, Miller said that BEC cannot afford to meet the union's demands.
Asked yesterday if he intends to sign the contract, he said, "I don't think any human being with a good conscience would sign any agreement that is not in the best interest of the people of The Bahamas."
"BEC has become a burden to all of us," he added.
Maynard said the union isn't asking for any additional benefits. He said it only wants to maintain what it is already receiving.
As it relates to rostering, he said the union has agreed to look at the issue in another six months.
The union president previously warned, "If they (government officials) renege on a deal because of Mr. Miller, there would be hell to pay."

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