March 5, 2014

Dear Sir, How long will it take ‘The Workers’ to realise that they are on a very dangerous path, literally leading to their own destruction, if they continue to strike without due notice.

For, if they continue to down tools and inconvenience our valuable tourists without any notice, like 400 arriving at Dockyard and no transportation, it would not take the tourists very long to get the impression that they were not valued, by leaving and not coming back. Apart from the conversations that would take place on their arrival home.

How long can ANY Government pull this lovely little Island out of its dire economic problems, if, at every disagreement, the union workers strike, crippling the Island with no transportation and no notice, and meetings scheduled during working days to again leave the tourists and the Bermudians in utter confusion as to how to deal with the problem.

How long could ‘The Workers’ survive if there were no tourists to cater to? These questions are vital and need a comprehensive understanding of the harm that will be done if this Island goes down. No jobs, no work, no pay packet, perhaps no roof over some heads? It doesn’t take too much imagination to see how serious this would be.

All the Government wants is to make transport a vital service, this does not deny the workers the right to strike, it just means that the 21-day notice gives everyone the chance to make arrangements with schools, family, children and businesses, and time for the two sides to come together and arbitrate. This is nothing short of common sense and respect.

I am a nurse. Would I go on strike and deny service to a patient’s needs without making arrangements? Of course not, why not? Because I would not want to put that person so inconvenienced.

There are people who will survive as they have security in their positions, and we all know who they are, but don’t be led, fooled, or bullied into agreeing, there must be some who do not want to strike.

This kind of power can lead to a “no win” situation for everyone, if it pushes too hard, too far, and too long.

As someone said: “Beware of what you do wish for.”

DIANA WILLIAMS