Foulkes: 'Get back to work' Customs, immigration officers, 'We're not going anywhere'

By LEDEDRA MARCHE

FN Senior Reporter

lededra@nasguard.com

Despite a move yesterday which Minister of Labour Dion Foulkes said forces Customs and Immigration officers back on the job, it appears it is not working.

Customs and Immigration officers say they are not going anywhere.

Minister Foulkes revealed that he has referred the officers' trade industrial dispute as well as that of the Commonwealth and Electrical Workers Union (CEWU)'s to the Industrial Tribunal.

The Industrial Tribunal will now hear both sides of the disputes and make a final determination.

"According to law, this now ends the strike by Customs and Immigration Officers and defers the CEWU strike certificate, effective today, April 13, 2012," he said.

As a result, the minister said all Customs and Immigration officers must now return to regular employment duties.

Minister Foulkes said his decision to refer the disputes to the Tribunal was based on the public interest.

But, Customs and Immigration officers, who started demonstrating last week Thursday, maintain they are still on strike and will remain until their shift system is returned and their industrial contract is signed.

Executives of The Bahamas Customs and Immigration Allied Workers Union (BCIAWU) insist they have been more than accommodating to the government and are awaiting a counterproposal on their industrial contract which they submitted since February.

As for the industrial dispute on some 14 issues, the officers say they also want to see them resolved.

The officers and clerical staff have carried out peaceful demonstrations at the front of the Government Complex which houses the Office of the Prime Minister, the Grand Bahama International Airport, the Freeport Harbour as well as the newly constructed Government Complex since the start of the strike.

During an emergency meeting in the capital last evening, BCIAWU Vice President Sloan Smith said they are of the belief that the minister has the power to instruct them to return to work.

In fact, they say the prime minister informed them that he is the government official to handle their matter.

Earlier this week, the minister and Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham say they are unaware what issues the officers are protesting for, especially since they have had three meetings with them.

Should the officers not return to work, they could face a fine of up to $200 or six months in prison.

© 2012 The Freeport News