Workers' Voice February, 2013

7/29/2019 Workers' Voice February, 2013

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INSIDE THIS ISSUEINSIDE THIS ISSUEINSIDE THIS ISSUE

Standoff at Anathol Rodgers High SchoolStandoff at Anathol Rodgers High SchoolStandoff at Anathol Rodgers High School Pg. 2Pg. 2Pg. 2

FireFireFire Pg. 5Pg. 5Pg. 5

When?When?When? Pg. 7Pg. 7Pg. 7

Inequality Within the Public ServiceInequality Within the Public ServiceInequality Within the Public Service Pg. 8Pg. 8Pg. 8

Equal Pay for Equal WorkEqual Pay for Equal WorkEqual Pay for Equal Work Pg. 9Pg. 9Pg. 9

Gibson: Govt. Committed to RegularizingGibson: Govt. Committed to RegularizingGibson: Govt. Committed to RegularizingTemporary WorkersTemporary WorkersTemporary Workers

Pg. 10Pg. 10Pg. 10

New Slate of Executive Officers for PoliceNew Slate of Executive Officers for PoliceNew Slate of Executive Officers for Police Pg. 12Pg. 12Pg. 12

Living a Healthy LifestyleLiving a Healthy LifestyleLiving a Healthy Lifestyle Pg. 13Pg. 13Pg. 13

New US Visa Procedures for the BahamasNew US Visa Procedures for the BahamasNew US Visa Procedures for the Bahamas Pg. 15Pg. 15Pg. 15

Useful LinksUseful LinksUseful Links Pg. 16Pg. 16Pg. 16

February, 2February, 2February, 2V o l u m e 2V o l u m e 2V o l u m e 2

Photo Courtesy of Rodney MoncurCommunity Activist

National Congress of Trade Unions BahamasNational Congress of Trade Unions BahamasNational Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas

February is Heart Health Awareness Month!


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P A G EV O L U M E 2

Anathol Rodgers school after approximately 5 years of being in existence is

plagued with problems ranging from smoke and foul odour to mold infesta-tion. The teachers and students have been tolerating these unsafe unsanitaryconditions for several months. President of the Bahamas Union of Teachers,Belinda Wilson has been communicating with Minister Fitzgerald on thesematters which have not yet been resolved. The environmental problems arecompounded by violence on the school campus where students, mostly malestudents, have been engaged in counter productive activities. Very often, stu-dents can be seen fighting in the streets and it is alleged that several stabbings

have taken place on or around the campus over the past few months.

Smoke covers Anathol Rodgers High School


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Teachers morale is very low at the

school because despite their effortsto have their concerns addressadequately by the Principal their

cries have gone on deaf ears.

Parents have now become involvedand at a PTA meeting they sought

to get answers to the myriad ofquestions related to, but not limited

to mold, smoke and violence. Inaddition to these concerns themajority of the teachers are not

being treated humanely and the

Administration, in particular thePrincipal Myrtle McPhee hasdisrespected teachers in the pres-ence of colleagues and students.

The Union is calling upon theMinistry of Education to addressall of the concerns at AnatolRodgers in a timely manner so

that the students may be educat-ed; as much time is being lost and

the students will be negatively

affected as a result.

Fire at the Derelict Vehicle Facility in the rearof Anathol Rodgers High School

Mold in the science lab at Anathol Rodgers High School

Information submitted by the BUT


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Fire Department responding to fire atAnathol Rodgers High School

BUT meets with environmental personnel to discuss concernsat Anathol Rodgers High School

Security Personnel from the Ministry of Education arrive

at Anathol Rodgers to discuss violence on school campus

School gates locked to keep out media and union


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Information and photos Courtesy of Rodney MoncurCommunity Activist

Firemen battle fire at the

Derelict Vehicle Facility on

Marshall Road in the rear ofAnathol Rodgers School.Community residents aredemanding that the facility

be relocated as fires in thatarea have become all toocommon. Residents are con-

cerned about the possiblehealth risk and the potential

loss of life and property if theFire Department are unable

to contain the fire.


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In her address to the staffof the Department of Social

Services at its fourth annu-

al Motivational Seminar,held on Thursday 7th

February, 2013, the Hon.

Melanie Griffin stated that

she will see to it that thestaff are treated fairly and

receive what they rightly

deserve. She made partic-

ular mention of the expan-sion of the Fox Hill Centre,

the creation of a new

outreach centre in Southwestern New Providence andthe overdue Career Path. Minister Griffin, Minister of

Social Service and Community Development, also

assured the staff that she discussed this Departments

outstanding human resource issues with the Hon. D.

Shane Gibson, Minister with responsibility for the PubicService and they will be resolved in the near future. The

question that looms is WHEN?.

Continuous discussions without resolution is intellectual

masturbation and does not benefit the staff. It is good

that Minister Griffin thinks that social work is the

noblest profession in the world, but her words need to

materialize into action. Unfortunately, while the Govern-

ment gives lip services to the needs of this Department, itcontinues to make demands, without the requisite

resources, facilities or remunerations. Social Services is

overdue for action, not more promise, so I hope that

todays talk is immediately followed by action, otherwise,

it was an effort in futility.

By: Sheleta Collie

Hon. Melanie GriffinMinister of Social Services and Community Development

Excerpt from theProgressive Liberal Part

Charter for GovernancEnsure adequate staffing atraining for social workers

Ensure adequate staffing a

training for social workers

all areas including thconcerned with witn

protection programmhuman trafficking, domeand spousal protecti

orders, community serv

orders and death penalty evuation.

Improve working conditifor staff and clients.

Implement the Career Pfor Social Workers.

Continue the programmeregularize workers on

Unemployment AssistanProgramme.


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There is a growing legion of temporaryworkers within the public service in areasuch as the Department of Social ServicesEnvironmental Health Services and theMinistry of Education. Many of thes

persons have been employed in excess o10, 15 and 20 years. These workers arealso grossly underpaid, which severely

limits their access to credit and greatldiminishes their quality of life. Theirinadequate income also forces many intosubstandard living conditions which insome cases lack the most basic amenities.

At its most basic level, this segregated

employment situation violates workers

right to equal pay for equal work as per

the Employment Act and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Mos

of these employees come from the lower socio-economic class, and the over

whelming majority of them are single mothers. Some report feeling powerles

and frustrated and there is a great deal of tension on the job resulting from

the inherent unfairness of the situation. Others say they feel victimized by

supervisors who see them not as fellow employees, but a subculture within the

service, unequal in status and rights.

By: Sheleta Collie


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UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF

HUMAN RIGHTS

Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just andfavourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment. Eve-

ryone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensur-ing for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and sup-

plemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection. Everyone has the

right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

EMPLOYMENT ACT 2001

ARTICLE -6-NON DISCRIMINATIONAND EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK

(b) paying him at a rate of pay less than the rate of pay of another employee,for substantially the same kind of work or for work of equal value performed

in the same establishment, the performance of which requires substantiallythe same skill, effort and responsibility and which is performed under similarworking conditions except where such payment is made pursuant to seniority,

merit, earnings, by quantity or quality of production or a differential based onany factor other than race, creed, sex, marital status, political opinion, age or

HIV/AIDS;


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P A G E V O L U M E 2

Government is committed to regularizingscores of temporary workers who areemployed within the public service, said

Minister of Labor and National InsuranceShane Gibson yesterday.

Gibson said he did not have exact figures onhow many government employees fall intothis category, but stressed that the Christie

administration has resolved to bring somesort of closure to the longstanding issue.

The Golden Gates MP said some peoplehave been temporarily employed within thepublic service for more than a decade, but

do not have benefits, such as a pension, that their permanent counterpartsenjoy.

"During the election campaign we committed ourselves to regularizing those

workers," Gibson said. "Obviously it cannot all be done at one time and it's alla matter of funding, so we committed ourselves to sitting down with the Baha-mas Public Service Union (BPSU) and working out a formula.

Hon. D. Shane GibsonMinister with responsibility for the Public Service


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"The most natural thing would be for the first in to be the first ones regular-ized," he added. "It would be a shame to have persons working weekly andmonthly for 15 years and they have to wait, when you have persons who just

started working six months or a year ago and they are regularized. So we will

be working out a formula for persons who are qualified and are willing andwant to come in as permanent and pensionable."

However Gibson said the process will "take some time" and added that he isunsure how many workers fall into the temporary category.

"I'm not sure how many workers it affects because you have some agencies

who have been allowed to hire individuals without reference to the public ser-vice, so in some instances you have workers who are hired on weekly and

monthly terms who we have no knowledge about," he explained.

News date : 09/18/2012Category :Nassau Guardian StoriesTaneka ThompsonGuardian Senior Reporter

[email protected]
http://www.bahamaslocal.com/newscategory/12/Nassau_Guardian_Stories.htmlhttp://www.bahamaslocal.com/newscategory/12/Nassau_Guardian_Stories.htmlhttp://www.bahamaslocal.com/newscategory/12/Nassau_Guardian_Stories.html


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The Royal Bahamas Police Force Staff Association (RBPFSA) executive team following

elections held on January 23rd, 2013.

Executive Chairman Sgt. 460 Dwayne RolleDeputy Chairman Pc. 2886 LaShan BriceSecretary Pc. 3212 Julius MarshallAssistant Secretary/Public Relations Officer Cpl. 2754 Jacqueline JonesTreasurer Sgt. 1889 Tonya Thompson-MossAssistant Treasurer Pc. 2889 Krishna CampbellChief Welfare Officer Pc. 3224 Emmanuel St. VilPrivate Engagement (Nassau) Pc. 2942 Ronnie FergusonDeputy Private Engagement (Nassau) Cpl. 1759 Inez MillerChairman (Grand Bahama) Pc. 2938 Andrew ClarkePrivate Engagement (Grand Bahama) Pc. 2860 LaShanda Bowe-FrancesDeputy Private Engagement (Grand Bahama) Pc. 3230 Parez DemerittePrivate Engagement (Abaco) Cpl. 1569 Garvin MackeyInternational Affairs Insp. Dwight Smith

STAFF ASSOCIATIONServing the Protectors with Pride

Executives of the recently elected Royal Bahamas Police Staff Association

attend a Worship Service


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The World Health Organization definesHEALTH as a state of complete physical,mental and social well-being and not

merely the absence of disease or infirmity.HEALTHY LIVING is defined as the steps,actions and strategies one puts in place toachieve optimum health. Healthy Livingis about taking responsibility and makingsmart health choices for today and for thefuture. Eating right, getting physically fit,emotional wellness, spiritual wellness andprevention are all part of creating a healthylifestyle.

As trade union leaders, we must not onlyfight for the rights of our members in theirrespective workplaces, we must encouragethem to live more healthy lifestyles so thatthey are able to benefit from and enjoy thefruits of our struggles on their behalf.

February is designated as Heart HealthAwareness month, and in this issue wewill provide some suggestions on how to

live a heart healthy lifestyle.

Heart disease is a broad term used todescribe a range of diseases that affectyour heart. The various diseases that fallunder the umbrella of heart diseaseinclude diseases of your blood vessels,such as coronary artery disease; heartrhythm problems (arrhythmias); heart in-fections; and heart defects you're born

with.

While heart disease has long been attribut-ed to men, do you know that it is now the#1 Killer of women in The Bahamas? Morewomen die of heart disease than any otherdisease - even breast cancer. Living with

heart disease can lead tod i s a b i l i t y a n d adecreased quality of life,

but few women taketheir risk seriously orpersonally.

Having just one riskfactor can double yourrisk for developing heart disease; multiple rfactors will multiply your risk.

Know the risk factors for heart disease:

High blood pressure High blood cholesterol Diabetes Smoking Overweight/Obesity Physical InactivityFamily history of early coronary heart d

ease Age (for men: 45 and older; women: 55 an

older)

Talk to your doctor to find out if you arerisk and take action if you are! Not smokiheart healthy eating, physical activity, mataining a healthy weight, and taking pscribed medication can help to control areduce the risks.

Here are 10 Steps to follow, to help you livheart healthy life.

1. Get regular checkups.2. Know your blood pressure and choleste

numbers.3. Follow your doctors recommendations

diet and exercise.4. Take prescribed medications as directed5. If you smoke, quit now.

Verna M. BonabyAsst. Secretary General, B


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6. Get at least 30 minutes of moderate physi-cal activity each day.

7. Eat a heart-healthy diet, including lots of

fruits and vegetables, whole-grain foodsand fish.8. Limit food high in saturated fats and cho-

lesterol.9. Limit daily salt intake to less than 1,500

mg per day.10.Learn your family history of heart disease

and talk to your healthcare provider tohelp manage your risk.

Heart disease may be a leading cause ofdeath, but that doesn't mean you have toaccept it as your fate. Although you lack thepower to change some risk factors such asfamily history, sex or age there are somekey heart disease prevention steps you cantake.

You can avoid heart problems in the futureby adopting a healthy lifestyle today !

Warning Signs or Symptoms of aHeart Attack

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense,and no one doubts whats happening. Butmost heart attacks start slowly, with mildpain or discomfort. Often people arent surewhats wrong and wait too long before gettinghelp. Here are signs that can mean a heartattack is happening:

Chest discomfort. Most heart attacksinvolve discomfort in the center of the chestthat lasts more than a few minutes, or thatgoes away and comes back. It can feel likeuncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullnessor pain.

Discomfort in other areas of tupper body. Symptoms can include por discomfort in one or both arms,

back, neck, jaw or stomach.Shortness of breath with or with

chest discomfort.

Other signs may include breaking outa cold sweat, nausea or light headedness

As with men, womens most common heattack symptom is chest pain or discofort. But women are somewhat more likthan symptoms, particularly shortness

breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jpain.

Dont ignore any of these warning sigeven if you feel it may only be indigestiongas. An ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure as Grammused to say!

Enjoy a Healthier Lifestyle

for a Healthier You!

To receive this and other health relatedinformation as a handout for yourmembers, please email request to

[email protected].

COMMUNICATIONS


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ILO Turin Centrehttp://www.itcilo.org/en

International Trade Union Confederation

http://www.ituc-csi.org/rio-20.html

the ILO Workers' Relations Bureau

http://www.ilo.org/actrav/lang--en/index.htm

Decent Work Country Programme, The Bahamashttp://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/program/dwcp/download/bahamas.pdf

ILO Caribbean

http://www.ilo.org/ipec/Regionsandcountries/LatinAmericaandCaribbean/lang--en/index.htm

Trade Union History, Bahamaswww.nctu-bahamas.org

www.sirrandolfawkes.com
http://www.itcilo.org/enhttp://www.ituc-csi.org/rio-20.htmlhttp://www.ilo.org/actrav/lang--en/index.htmhttp://www.ilo.org/actrav/lang--en/index.htmhttp://www.ituc-csi.org/rio-20.htmlhttp://www.itcilo.org/en


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Dear Friends,

We are very happy to have completed another edition of the newsletter for

the National Congress of Trade Unions of the Bahamas and we would like to

thank each and every one of you who took the time to make a contribution.

The name of the newsletter is The Workers Voice which was a name that Sir

Randol Fawkes gave to the Bahamas Federation of Labor's newspaper in

1959. This current newsletter gives to you, the worker, a voicea means to

communicate with your fellow brothers and sisters in the union. Additionally,

through TheWorkers Voice, you now have the opportunity of profiling your

union and the work that you are doing.

It is our aim to introduce to you all of the affiliate unions attached to the

NCTUB. In each edition, we also will bring you content that is historical in

nature. History informs us of the struggles that our forbears underwent and

the debt of appreciation that we owe them for the sacrifices made. The news-

letter will also enable us to document the history that is being made today so

that future generations will be inspired by our efforts .Finally would you like to be a part of this communications venture? Do you

have a story to tell, an opinion to share? Do you have English, photography,graphic arts design skills? If your answer is Yes! then we would appreciate

hearing from you.

With thanks,Sheleta Collie

Chairman, NCTUB Public Relations Committee National Congress of T

Unions of The BahamasCarter St. & Horseshoe DrivPh: (242) 356-7459Fax: (242) 356-7457E-mail: ncongress@hotmaWebsite: nctu-bahamas.org

Workers' Voice February, 2013

Documents

Transcript of Workers' Voice February, 2013