Industrial tension is once again brewing between Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) and the union that represents line staff at the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC).
Executives and shop stewards of the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU) yesterday voiced their displeasure at BTC's counterproposal to the union's suggestions as to what employees should receive in a new industrial agreement.
In protest of BTC's offer, BCPOU president Bernard Evans officiated a mock funeral at BTC headquarters, burying the document in the dirt surrounding a plant in front of the building's entrance.
Evans said the document, which reportedly offered no pay increases for three years, was not worthy of burning.
"It's just a dead, dead, lifeless counter proposal," Evans said, as mock mourners sang hymns and wailed in the background. "Never before in the history of our existence have we ever had a slap in the face offer such as this one."
The new three-year industrial agreement should have taken effect this year, but negotiations were shelved due to the sale of 51 percent of BTC, which concluded in April.
While the details of the counterproposal were not available up to press time, Evans said it proposed the elimination of Christmas bonuses and reducing increments for employees.
"Given that we're already one year into our contract with two years remaining, we thought it could have been much better," he said.
"They haven't come back with any [offer of] increases. Everything either remains the same or they want to reduce. They're asking us to take less and less. As time goes on, we'll know if we're going to get anything. But we think this [counter proposal] should be dead and buried."
After the "burial", BTC CEO Geoff Houston responded by saying the company was not alarmed by the demonstration and it will continue to work with the union in a way that will benefit all stakeholders.
"Paramount though, in our minds as we move forward, is the need to create a world-class, customer-centric organization that provides superior service, cutting-edge products, and best prices and value for money.
"And our industrial arrangements and company policies must be shaped to facilitate this if BTC is to survive and thrive going forward," said Houston in a statement.
"Provided that we can in good faith, continue our discussions based on these core principles, I am convinced that we shall find common ground and shape an agreement that will serve the interest of all parties," he said.
Houston also pointed out that BTC is now a privately owned company and not only now faces significant competition in the land line market, but in the next two and a half years will likely face significant competition in the mobile market.
He said those factors mean that BTC must change the way it conducts business if the company is to survive in this new environment.

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