Despite giving the government a deadline of November 1 to resolve concerns regarding medical coverage for its members, the Bahamas Customs Immigration and Allied Workers Union (BCIAWU) has to date taken no action.

When contacted yesterday, BCIAWU Vice President Sloane Smith said the union has not forgotten its promise, but more pertinent issues have emerged that require the union's attention.

When asked what the issues are, Smith would not say. He said the union would contact the media in the near future. "We don't want to comment on anything," he said.

"I think it is safe to simply say we will certainly have a response in an appropriate time. We will certainly let the media know.

"There are other things that we are looking at that are more pressing." Last month, the BCIAWU threatened to take a strike vote if the government did not provide medical insurance coverage for non-uniformed customs and immigration employees.

Smith said the union filed a trade dispute with the Department of Labour and would take further action if the government did not resolve the matter by November 1.

When asked about the union's concerns, Prime Minister Perry Christie urged the union to be patient. Christie said while he is sympathetic to the union's demands, the government is constrained financially.

"We have been in discussions with the customs and immigration union for a very long time; since we first came to office," he said. "We have told them we are very committed and prepared for them to look at the books."

Minister of Labour Shane Gibson said the union is being unrealistic and "overreaching" with its strike threat.

He said the government would not respond to threats. However, Smith said the union is not being combative, but has simply stated the legal options it has if the issues are not resolved.

The BCIAWU protested in the weeks before the May 7 general election and said the former government dismissed its concerns. Its issues included health insurance, compensation and what the union called an illegal shift system.

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