Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU) President John Pinder threatened to engage in "serious" industrial action if the longtime concerns of scores of Ministry of Public Works maintenance workers are not addressed by the end of the day. More than 60 maintenance workers withdrew their labor yesterday for several hours. The workers said they are tired of waiting on the government to addresss issues associated with the non-payment of hazard pay.

Pinder said some employees have been waiting for years to receive the hazard pay that they are reportedly due. When The Nassau Guardian arrived at the Ministry of Public Works on John F. Kennedy Drive around 1 p.m., Pinder said the employees had agreed to resume work after he and a group of BPSU executives met with officials from the ministry. Pinder said the union was assured that the matter would be addressed by today.

"Once that happens then we will hold off on any industrial action. If that doesn't happen then we will have no other choice but to bring about industrial action," Pinder said. "It's so sad that that's the only way you can get something done in this country from the government's perspective. You have to always embarrass the government publicly and that's the only way. That's the language I have to speak."

And while the union has received assurances, Pinder said he will take it with a grain of salt. The union president noted that the government promised to address the matter back in November, however, changes have yet to be made. "All we have are promises, promises, promises," he said yesterday shortly after he wrapped up a meeting with works officials.

When The Guardian asked Minister of Public Works and Urban Development Philip Brave Davis about the industrial action yesterday, he said he is aware of the issues and has asked officials at the ministry to compile a report. Davis said he will address the matter sometime today. The ministry's maintenance department includes carpenters, plumbers, mechanics and electricians. In November 2012 the workers carried out a series of industrial action in a bid to have the hazard pay issue addressed. The maintenance department has over 200 staff members, Pinder said.

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