Putting our "feet to the fire."

BECon is on the move! Following an eye-opening visit and workshop from ILO and IOE reps, Luesette Howell and Brent Wilton, Officers and Management Committee members of BECon have rolled up their collective sleeves to re-evaluate, regroup, and revitalize the organization.

The four day workshop in Nassau and Freeport started on July 3rd and culminated in a strategic plan for BECon for 2001 going forward. The working committee is presently meeting every week to develop the strategy into an action plan. FOR THIS PLAN AND THIS ORGANIZATION TO SUCCEED, BECON NEEDS THE PARTICIPATION OF EVERY MEMBER.

Over the coming weeks and months, you will be receiving updates on the Committee's progress and we hope that you will volunteer to become part of one of the working committees that will evolve from our strategic plan.

Both Luesette and Brent have pledged their ongoing assistance through the International Labour Organization and the International Employers Organization, but it is ultimately the desire and effort of local members that is going to make BECon fly or die.

News of Note

Minister Earl Deveaux, Minister of Labour and Immigration had this to say at the recent ILO Conference in Geneva, Switzerland on June 11th, 2001.

"On 25 May 1976, the Bahamas ratified three of the eight core Conventions. During the 89th Session I will on behalf of my Government, deposit the instruments of ratification for the remaining core Convention: Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention, 1948 (No. 87). Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100). Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111). Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138), and Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182).

Next month when we enact into law the Employment, the Minimum Wage and the Health and Safety Bills, the Bahamas will have satisfied the necessary pre-conditions and will ratify the remaining non-core Conventions."

Believe It or Not

Chairman of the Industrial Tribunal, Nathaniel Dean, recently passed down a judgment in favour of employees, which could negatively impact all employers; if not addressed.

Vacation pay must be accrued on all overtime hours worked in addition to basic wage.

Public holidays not worked are to be paid to temporary or part time workers.

Mr. Dean is prepared to go back as far as 6 years when calculating the award. Some 47 employees were petitioning in this case.

There is a small hope that this decision will be overruled at the appeal level. It is therefore incumbent on all of us to register our opposition to this ruling through BECon now.

Dates to Note

July 29, 2001 - Caricom / UK Summit - Jamaica
November 2001 - WTO Ministerial Conference - Doha, Qatar
December 2001 - Commonwealth Head of Government Summit - Bustane, Australia

Future Bulletins

Please contact us if there are any issues or news you want us to highlight in our next bulletin.

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