Gov'ts drive to make unions 'more efficient'

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

Bahamian trade unions must avoid "procedural errors and missteps" that could lead to litigation, the Director of Labour yesterday disclosing: "We're trying to make them more efficient."

Robert Farquharson was speaking as the Department of Labour's Regulatory and Compliance Unit hosted a seminar on compliance and procedures that will assist the proper functioning of trade unions.

"We are trying to help the trade unions to be more efficient," he said. "This is the first time that we are doing this. We are looking at issues such as industrial agreements, how to file a trade dispute, taking a strike vote, the recognition process and getting audited financial statements. Unions have to stay abreast of these thing in order to function properly."

Mr Farquharson added that the Department of Labour has been inundated with questions from many unions, especially first-time executives, about the process and/or procedures they must follow.

Sherry Benjamin, the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union's (BCPOU) secretary-general, told Tribune Business: "It was a lot of information and timely information. The Department of Labour has established a compliance department, and a lot of unions are not aware of the processes you have to go through.

"I think this was all very timely. Everyone felt it should be extended to all trade union executives and employers as well. A lot of issues discussed would have been related to employers, and it's vital for them understanding the changes in law that govern not only unions but employers as well."