NASSAU, Bahamas — Union leaders representing more than 200,000 workers in The Bahamas yesterday rejoiced in the possibility of the Progressive Liberal Party becoming the next government following the impending general election, The Tribune reported on Thursday, April 26.
In anticipation of a PLP electoral win, the umbrella unions — National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas and Trade Union Congress — signed a memorandum of understanding committing the PLP to ensuring that long-standing union issues are resolved and the function of the united unions continues in the best interest of workers.
What is disclosed in this pact the unions made with the PLP has not been detailed to the media as it is pending final ratification by the PLP’s leadership council, however Mr Davis assured attendees yesterday that the document has his full support and he sees no difficulties in having it pass his leadership council.
Speaking during the signing, Obie Ferguson, Trade Union Congress president, suggested that union officials intended to go to every church and urge them to tell their parishioners to vote for the PLP.
“This is indeed a very historic afternoon in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas,” Mr Ferguson said. “We as a grouping the TUC and NCTU have seen the wisdom in putting aside whatever personal differences there may be and to work together as one in the interest of the working people of this great country.
“We have met weeks, months attempting to iron out what we consider to be important essential things for the working people and I can assure all workers, the 200 plus thousand workers in this great country when we disclose to them the terms the proposals the initiatives that we worked out and that we have been able to work out with the Progressive Liberal Party it will be clear to them as to why we are where we are.”
He also said: “In 20 something days we will have a new government and let me assure you we will go to every church in this island, every church in The Bahamas will know the programme that we have agreed in principle with the Progressive Liberal Party, and we will ask them to tell their parishioners this is the way to go.
“This is our country. The Bahamas must be for Bahamians and all those other people who come along, we must make provisions for them too, but our first obligation must be to Bahamians.” See complete story in The Tribune at http://www.tribune242.com/news/2021/aug/26/union-leaders-sign-plp-party-pledges-it-will-resol/
