The controversial airport redevelopment project, lack of employment for Bermudians and the need for a living wage were all high on the agenda in the 35th Annual Labour Day Banquet speech last night.

Keynote speaker Chris Furbert, president of the Bermuda Industrial Union, opened his speech by asking what would happen to working class people if the decisions of the Bermuda Government were not questioned.

One of the biggest questions being asked by the union, he said, was why the whole agreement for the airport deal had not yet been shared with the public. He told the audience packed into the Poinciana Ballroom at the Fairmont Southampton Resort: “With all that has been discussed with regard to this airport project, the people of Bermuda have yet to see how this whole agreement will benefit Bermuda and its people.

“The Public Private Partnership, which is a contract between government and a private company, is the model that this current government is attempting to use.

“What this means is a private company finances, builds and operates some element of the public service and in turn gets paid over a number of years (in this case Aecon for 30 years) either through concessions or payments from the public authority (government) or both. “Is this what Bermuda wants? No! The people have spoken and their voices continue to go unheard. This is a very bad deal for Bermuda. Once again Bermuda labour is at the disposal of foreigners.”

Speaking on employment, Mr Furbert questioned why Bermudians are struggling to find work, saying that according to the Employment Brief released by the Department of Statistics, the number of jobs filled by Bermudians declined by 52 per cent from 2008 to 2015. He said what was also a concern was that the drop in non-Bermudian jobs was only 48 per cent in the same period.

“So you tell me ... how this government has allowed this to happen to Bermudians, whilst the business sector continues to overlook Bermudians during their hiring practices?”

He then quoted Martin Luther King on “our glorious fight for civil rights”, and recalled the March 2016 protest against the proposed Immigration Protection Amendment Act 2016.

“The OBA [One Bermuda Alliance] government, who failed to follow the proper consultation process, and were prepared once again to put Bermudians second.”

With regards to a living wage he said now that the government had addressed the issue he hoped all would participate in the process.

“I look forward to making sure that Bermuda as a country will start to address this imbalance in wage earnings between blacks, whites and others,” he said.

“The idea of a working wage is that workers and their families should be able to afford a basic but decent lifestyle that is considered acceptable by society at its current level of economic development,” he said, citing the International Labour Organisation.

Mr Furbert also touched on the leaders of our future — young people — and he highlighted some of the opportunities that are open to them.

He spoke of action groups, such as the Skill Development Programme, that help to get young people into horticulture as well as numerous religious and sporting youth groups that are doing positive things in our community.

In closing, Mr Furbert said: “I trust that I have given you food for thought ... the time has come for us to create a pathway to unity that will truly bring back unity to the community”.