NASSAU, Bahamas — Labour Minister Dion Foulkes has called for cooler heads to prevail in the Water and Sewerage dispute, telling reporters yesterday that he is “cautiously optimistic” that both sides could negotiate a resolution in the coming weeks, The Tribune reported April 5.
Tensions between WSC executive chairman Adrian Gibson and Bahamas Utilities Services and Allied Workers Union (BUSAWU) president Dwayne Woods have exploded this week as an industrial dispute escalated into allegations of sabotage and threats of lawsuits.
Calling for peace from the steps of the Senate yesterday, Mr Foulkes said his ministry has invited both sides to a meeting scheduled for Monday at 11am, when he said he hopes both sides can “sit down in a dispassionate way” and make progress towards a resolution.
“We are trying to get the temperature lowered,” he said. “The Minister of Works Mr Desmond Bannister is also involved and I think once we get at the table, we will be able to get the issues resolved. But as I said, I am optimistic, but cautiously optimistic.”
On Tuesday, members of both BUSAWU and the Water & Sewerage Management Union’s (WSMU) president demonstrated outside WSC’s University Drive headquarters in what was termed a “withdrawal of enthusiasm”.
The two groups openly decried what they suggested was the unfair suspension of an employee for five days without pay. http://www.tribune242.com/news/2019/apr/05/foulkes-tries-calm-waters/?news
