By NAVARDO SAUNDERS
Freeport News Reporter
Prime Minister Perry Christie made an impromptu visit to Grand Bahama Saturday to convince the owners of the Freeport Container Port to reopen the transshipment hub.
Hours later the Freeport Container Port issued a press release stating that it will resume operations at 8:00 a.m. today, but with less than three quarters of its normal workforce.
The 300 plus employees who walked off their jobs last week after their co-worker John Rolle was terminated, have also been terminated.
The container port, in a press release issued on Saturday, said that as a result of the "illegal work stoppage" there has been a decline in business, as some of its customers have decided to conduct business at other container ports in the region, forcing the Freeport Container Port to cut back on staff.
The release states that the decision to resume business today, with a less than sufficient workforce, was made in order to meet the urgent demands of its customers who have "suffered significant financial losses and face serious financial setbacks as a result of the illegal work stoppage."
The release also states that the container port appreciates the support of those employees who did not engage in the work stoppage.
Hutchison Port Holdings, owners of the Freeport Container Port, the largest transshipment hub in the region, last Friday indicated through FCP's attorney Robert Adams that they were considering shutting down the container port permanently after a large number of employees had stayed off the job for three days, protesting the company's decision to terminate John Rolle.
Rolle's termination added fuel to a bitter feud which had developed between management and employees of the container port over the past several weeks.
On June 1 employees received a letter from FCP Director Godfrey Smith stating that Maersk Sealand, the company's second largest customer had withdrawn two of its seven ships due to low productivity and had indicated that more may be withdrawn in the near future.
Citing a decrease in revenue, FCP advised its employees that it would review its labour requirements with a view to making necessary staff reductions.
On June 7 the employees, most of whom were off duty, congregated in front of the container port to air concerns regarding the letter.
Since that time tension was high between management and employees due to the imminent layoffs.
Last week, however, the situation went from bad to worse after employees took serious action.
The employees walked off their jobs in protest last Wednesday after their outspoken leader John Rolle was fired.
The workers believe Rolle was discharged because he had been bargaining for a union to represent workers, who felt that they were being mistreated.
But the Container Port contends that Rolle was terminated because he was causing too many problems and had become too much of a distraction.
The container port urged the employees to get back to work immediately following the work stoppage, but the workers said they would only go back to work if Rolle was reinstated.
But the container port insisted that its decision against Rolle was final.
As a result the employees stayed off the job Thursday and Friday.
During a press briefing on Friday attorney Adams deemed the work stoppage as illegal and without merit.
He says reports that the workers were being taken advantage of are false and misleading.
The Grand Bahama Port Authority says it supports the container port and vice-president Willie Moss said she was disappointed in the workers who she claims had no just cause to walk off their jobs.
Minister of Labour and Immigration Vincent Peet was unsuccessful in his attempt to bring resolution to the ongoing dispute between management and employees of the container Port.
The Freeport News has been reliably informed that many of the terminated workers will be rehired as full-time employees or casual workers.
ALL SYSTEMS GO, HOPEFULLY! – Three inactive cranes can be seen in the background Saturday, days after 300 plus workers refused to go to work at the Freeport Container Port. Prime Minister Perry Christie made an impromptu visit to Grand Bahama Saturday to convince the owners of the Freeport Container Port to reopen the transshipment hub. Hours later the Freeport Container Port issued a press release stating that it will resume operations at 8:00 a.m. today, but with less than three quarters of its normal workforce. (Staff photo by Donald Knowles)
