In response to reports that Obie Ferguson, President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), is rallying members of his umbrella union to take industrial action this week, Minister of Labour Pia Glover-Rolle issued a statement urging union leaders to reconsider.
The minister emphasized the government’s ongoing engagement with unions and the progress already being made in addressing workers’ concerns.
“We have taken note of reports about a potential national strike,” Glover-Rolle said in her statement. “In anticipation of an imminent strike, the relevant government ministries have been notified and advised to prepare for potential disruptions. However, it is important to recognize that the Davis Administration remains actively engaged in addressing labour issues through open and constructive dialogue and proactive action.”
Glover-Rolle pointed out that the government has made concerted efforts to communicate with union leaders. “I, as well as the Director of Labour and the Ministry’s Labour Relations Units, have consistently communicated and met with union leaders over the course of the past year,” she said. “The Prime Minister himself has personally reached out to Mr. Obie Ferguson and other union leaders, ensuring that every concern is given time and attention.”
The minister noted that meetings between government officials and union representatives are ongoing and that a clear timeline has been set to resolve most of the issues raised by the unions by the end of this month.
“In light of this, I must ask: what is the objective of a national strike when union leaders already have the ear and full attention of the government?” Glover-Rolle questioned. “What purpose does disruption serve when the government is not only listening but actively working toward solutions?”
She stressed that there has been no breakdown in communication between the government and unions.
“In fact, I met with representatives from all local trade unions as recently as December. During that meeting, we discussed each of their concerns. In the following days, we were able to forward many of these matters to the Ministry of Finance to be actioned,” she said.
Glover-Rolle further explained that the government had committed to reviewing progress with the unions at their next quarterly meeting in March, reinforcing the government’s willingness to work collaboratively toward resolution.
“The door to dialogue remains open, and the government has demonstrated its willingness to address all concerns,” Glover-Rolle continued. “A national strike at this juncture would be both premature and unnecessary, creating hardship for Bahamians while undermining the progress we are making together.”
She urged union leaders to remain patient and continue working within the established framework for resolving disputes.
“The government is committed to resolving these matters as quickly as possible,” Glover-Rolle concluded. “We urge union leaders to stay the course, honour the process we have agreed upon, and allow these discussions to reach their natural conclusion. Striking now, when there is clear progress and open dialogue, is not the way forward. Instead, let’s continue to cooperate, negotiate, and compromise for the benefit of Bahamian workers.”
Ferguson, in his earlier comments, had said that the union’s members were frustrated by the slow pace of negotiations and that industrial action could be imminent if their demands were not met. However, Glover-Rolle maintains that such a move would be premature given the ongoing dialogue and efforts to resolve the issues at hand.
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