BPSU ‘increasingly concerned’ at numbers of Civil servants embroiled in controversies

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Civil servants have been urged to speak to their union before they get embroiled in the kind of controversies that have led to recent court cases.

Bermuda Public Services Union President Kevin Grant said public workers facing pressure due to Ministerial interference always have somewhere to turn.

“If any of our members find themselves in precarious situations, they must realise that they have representation and must not hesitate to involve the union before it is too late,” he urged.

Mr Grant issued a press release yesterday referencing comments made by the Auditor General, Heather Jacobs Matthews, in an interview earlier this month with the Bermuda Sun.

Ms Jacobs Matthews said civil servants should “stand their ground” and resist pressure from senior officials or politicians to break the civil service code or financial instructions.

She welcomed good governance legislation and moves to protect whistle-blowers but said progress has been too slow.

Mr Grant told The Royal Gazette: “The Auditor General’s statement for civil servants to stand their ground is a call out to all Government workers to practice good governance and honour the conditions of employment and code of conduct in conjunction with the collective bargaining agreements.

“The Bermuda Public Services Union (BPSU) is becoming increasingly concerned about the number of civil servants who have found themselves embroiled in controversy.”

Mr Grant said recent court cases and reports issued by Mrs Jacobs Matthews prompted those concerns.

“A lot of civil servants have been finding themselves in precarious positions,” he said, although he declined to cite specific cases.

“I guess they are trying to balance making sure that they do a good job and at the same time please their Minister.”

He also commented: “Two significant factors that must be addressed are poor communication and ministerial influence.

“Ministers who have been mandated to implement initiatives must follow protocol and policy and this has to be encouraged by the Permanent Secretaries who are charged with facilitating this process.

“Further to this, department heads and Permanent Secretaries must be cognisant that they do not compromise the remit of their senior officers. All civil servants must be cognisant of the fact that they have protocols to abide by.

“Far too often civil servants have been put in positions that end up in controversy that puts their employment into jeopardy.

“However, the conditions of employment and code of conduct is clear on policy and if used in conjunction with the collective bargaining agreement, will allow all stakeholders to govern themselves accordingly.”

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