The Bahamas Electricity Corporation's (BEC) line staff union staged an emotionally charged protest at BEC's main office that shut down operations and eventually led to a shoving match with police yesterday. The protest, led by the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union (BEWU) and supported by the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU), began around 9:30 a.m. and went on for hours with members physically barring all customers from entering the premises. BEWU President Stephano Greene said operations at most BEC locations were also shut down.
Workers have been going head to head with BEC Chairman Leslie Miller for several months now over issues regarding a new shift system and overtime pay. But Greene said the firing of BEC employee Melinda Cunningham and the suspension of BEWU chief shop steward Michael Edgecombe triggered the new round of tension. The workers renewed calls for Miller's removal. More than 100 of them gathered at the gate of the Baillou Hill Road headquarters. They chanted, "Leslie got to go; Leslie got to go" as police failed in their attempts to calm them down.
In addition to BEC customers, protestors also prevented labor relations consultants Robert Farquharson and Frank Carter from entering the premises despite their insistence that they were seeking to assist the workers. Carter and Farquharson were engaged by the BEC board to help resolve the matter. Altercation At one point, workers hurled two rocks at Farquharson's car as he tried to force his way through the main gate. Both Farquharson and Carter were heading to a meeting that was scheduled for 11 a.m.
Workers also lifted the front end of Farquharson's car while he was sitting in the driver's seat after he refused to back down. At one point, Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Seymour was pushed into Farquharson's vehicle as he attempted to guide Farquharson through BEC's gates. Farquharson sat in his car for about 30 minutes before he got out with police protection. However, he was barred from entry again as he attempted to walk through the gates. Workers alleged that he is not on their side. During the height of the protest about 10 officers were called in as back-up.
But their presence did not help either Farquharson or Carter to gain entrance. Seymour and Assistant Commissioner Leon Bethell, who arrived with the police contingent, advised Farquharson to discontinue his attempts to enter the premises in an effort to restore peace. As the ruckus went on, Carter stood on the side. "I am not going to get into any physical altercation to get into the building," he told reporters after the workers told him he could not enter. "I'm too old a man to be pushing my way into a meeting. It's unfortunate that emotions are running the way that they are.
"I'm hoping that reason, logic and good sense will prevail. We are Bahamians and we are peaceful people and we can resolve our differences in another way." Carter said he and Farquharson were called in to negotiate on behalf of the board, listen to complaints of the union and take those to executive management and the board. But the members of the BEWU said they had no interest in speaking to either Carter or Farquharson. They said they want to speak to Miller or Prime Minister Perry Christie. Shortly after noon the workers closed the gates to discuss the way forward.
Greene said if the government does not meet the union halfway, "our members are prepared to escalate to whatever action they decide is necessary". Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis, who has responsibility for BEC, told reporters yesterday that he met with union executives on Tuesday night and did not expect them to protest. "They indicated what their issues were and I asked them to engage in the grievance procedure that is set out in their industrial agreement and once that has been engaged and run its course, it would reach our desk," said Davis before going into a Cabinet meeting.
As for Miller's performance at the corporation, Davis said he does not see any reason why the chairman should be removed. "He is attempting to keep the mandate of the government by reducing the cost of electricity to the Bahamian consumer," Davis said. But Greene said Miller's methods of operation are very questionable. "The chairman of the corporation has been doing a lot of things in the last few months since he's been here, lambasting staff in the press, talking about salaries...The government needs to step in to address this matter immediately," he said.
Response In response to the protest, BEC advised its customers in New Providence and the Family Islands that it has contingency measures in place to ensure that any action on the part of the union does not severely impact the corporation's operations. BEC further informed the public that the action of the junior employees of the corporation is illegal, and therefore, in breach of the industrial relations agreement and is in direct contravention of the labor laws.
"Although there are instances when the corporation and the union may disagree on certain matters, at all times BEC encourages the union to ensure that any action they may be considering is not to the detriment of BEC's customers and by extension the entire country," a statement from BEC said. "Finally, BEC reiterates its commitment to working with the BEWU, or any union, in the best interest of its employees, its customers and the corporation."
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