Union leaders are scheduled to meet with the minister of labour today in a last ditch attempt to resolve issues before they make the call for a three-day mass shutdown of services across the country.

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) held a rally Tuesday evening at St. Gregory’s Anglican Church Hall to rally all union leaders and members in preparation for possible strike action.

TUC President Obie Ferguson during his address to the crowd described both the minister of labour and the director of labour as “impotent.”

“How could the government of The Bahamas say or agree that a registered trade union cannot access its members,” he asked.

“Then I realised what is happening at Sandals. I understand Sandals officers cannot go to its members and the minister of labour and the director of labour seem to be impotent. You know when you’re impotent, you know what happens.”

Head of the Commonwealth Union of Hotel Workers Michelle Dorsett said she is beyond disappointed with what labour has come to in The Bahamas.

“The government is a failure,” she said.

“Today was nonsense,” Ms. Dorsett said referring to the government’s press conference held on Tuesday in which they touted their two years in office as a success.

“The workers are suffering. We need to let them know and send a strong message. Enough is enough.”
President of The Bahamas Christian Council Reverend Dr. Ranford Patterson said for too long Bahamians have been unable to come together for anything other than politics.

“All you union leaders, you have a lot of faith,” he said. “Way more than me.

“You have more faith than I do in the Bahamian people when it comes to standing up for what is right. We would talk on the talk shows all day. This room should be filled with people. People should be standing all around the walls.”

About 200 union members attended the meeting.

“When it’s time for us to stand up for the things we need to stand up for, we can’t,” he added. “Remember politics is only five years. But you are a worker forever and you must be willing to stand and take a stand for what is right. It doesn’t matter which political party is in power. Workers must stand together.”

The union leaders said if the government does not fix all of their issues as soon as possible, then they will have to proceed with their plans of shutting down services in the country.