Nearly 100 disgruntled customs and immigration officers protested outside The Nassau Guardian yesterday as Minister of Labour Dion Foulkes appeared on a radio show inside the building.
The officers were agitating to get on "Darold Miller Live" on Guardian Radio 96.9FM to debate Foulkes about their outstanding labor issues.
The protest came three days after Foulkes ordered the members of the Bahamas Customs Immigration and Allied Workers Union (BCIAWU) to return to work.
Foulkes claimed the strike disrupted operations at the nation's ports of entry and 'threatened' the country's economy. On Friday, Foulkes said he had referred the union's trade dispute to the Industrial Tribunal, which he said legally ended the strike.
Although Foulkes did not speak to the protesting officers yesterday, he told Darold Miller that the union's actions were unlawful.
"Today (Monday) there should be no strike action. Any strike action today is illegal," Foulkes said.
Sloane Smith, vice president of the BCIAWU, said the uniformed officers will not return to work until their demands are met or they receive an official document from the Ministry of Labour proving that their matters have been referred to the Industrial Tribunal.
"Since his letter to us, we've not seen an originating application, neither have we seen a certificate of referral, neither have our lawyers seen anything. Get it to us; we aren't hard to find," he said.
"It is in the best interest of the country that the government seeks to resolve this, failing that we will stand until the next government sits. Whatever the law says that we are obliged to do - we are law abiding, we enforce laws ourselves. If the law says after all those protocols have been followed we must return to work, we will return to work."
Smith also stressed that the union's actions were not political and that his organization would agitate for the best treatment of its members regardless of which political party is in power.
"We don't care [which] government is in," he said. "If you want to look at politics, the FNM (Free National Movement) did not sign the agreement that produced this (the strike).
"The government, whoever it is, if the prime minister has the privilege of being reelected so be it. Seeing that this whole thing mushroomed under his office, I think it will look good to be able to resolve something."
Smith said the union plans to strike for up to a month after the May 7 election if it has to.
Yesterday it was unclear what if any punishment the officers who are on strike will face.
Director of Immigration Jack Thompson said his agency was auditing its records to see how many officers did not return to work after Foulkes' order on Friday.
He would not say if those officers will face punishment.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Immigration Brent Symonette yesterday said that the officers on strike will face whatever punishment is applicable under law, if warranted.
The union is fighting for health insurance for its members, the results of a compensation study which it said proves that the workers are underpaid, retroactive overtime pay and the removal of a shift system it deems illegal.

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