20 August, 2014

Dear Sir,

I have no intention in engaging in a war of words with the president of the BIU and taking up space in this valuable column for what should be used for more important matters. After this letter I will speak on this issue no further, but after hearing the mumbling pathetic excuses offered by Mr Furbert flanked by his most loyal generals in a show of the most stoic solidarity I am dismayed.

In the past Mr Furbert has demanded of the businesses where their collective agreements are in force to open their books for union audit when they have been informed the increases being demanded simply could not be afforded.

Now that the shoe is on the other foot the unions expenses/books are classified and their need for this incredible increase to be levied on their clients is entirely justified as they have the most excessive burden of increasing costs unlike the rest of us.

Go figure, their credibility is shot and any currency of trust they have previously enjoyed is now squandered in the public square.

The hypocrisy of the principle executives at union square is astounding when you consider their out of hand rejection of BELCO and the supermarkets making the same case.

The BIU wants us to accept that their business model is deserving of exemption from the rule of keeping prices down for the hard pressed consumer.

What is needed is an example of real sharing of the burden of economic purgatory being suffered by many in this country especially at the lower income level. This group is the BIU’s main source of income, how in good conscience could the union not revisit a bad decision and lower its increase to one dollar and show themselves as true champions of the under class. To instead dig in and say that 16.5 percent increase is acceptable and reasonable when they would condemn it anywhere else is morally deficient.

When it is the other group that is traditionally the bad guys you can posture and grandstand on what you think is the most righteous perch. Well now, the villains in this sad scenario are the BIU and the victims in this monetary shake down are the workers, and they should be understanding.

United they have their pockets picked, and divided they are taken advantage of. Loyalty to the union has never been more costly.

BIU Member