Malcolm Dixon steps down from his post as executive director of the Bermuda Employers Council (BEC) at the end of the year.

Mr. Dixon, who turned 65 in October, said he is ready to walk away from the “politics” of the BEC post, but is not ready to retire from labour relations work which he sees as his “calling”. As such, he takes up the position of executive vice-president (for corporate and human resources services) for the Total Group, in January.

In his new post, Mr. Dixon said he will be doing “much the same” in terms of working with employers on labour issues. But, he added he will not miss being on the “front line” which has involved a fair amount of “politics and bureacracy”.

Throughout his 14-year tenure at the helm of the BEC, Mr. Dixon said there have been significant challenges. Mr. Dixon added that the on-going drive to encourage employers to adopt good policies and practices for their employees has started to pay off.

“Going back quite a while - at least ten years or more - there were frustrations in the confrontational stance between employers and trade unions. But, on the positive side we have seen confrontation disappear almost altogether in recent years. And we have seen employers become more willing to develop good practices through the introduction of company handbooks and policy manuals. And this is both in the union and non-union sectors.

“Ultimately, there is now a more cooperative spirit, all around, between employers, employees and trade unions.”

Mr. Dixon said the BEC played an active role as Government moved to put the Employment Act 2000 on the books. He said the body presented position papers and held regular meetings with then Labour Minister Paula Cox and her technical officers.

The purpose of the Act is to promote fair treatment of employers and employees, provide minimum standards, establish procedures and notice periods for termination, protect against unfair dismissal and establish an employment tribunal.

The Act came into effect on March 1, but employers have been given one year in which to comply with regulations.

Mr. Dixon said the Employment Act has been one of the biggest and most positive things that has happened on Bermuda's labour relations front.

He said the move towards legislation had come from the previous UBP Government.

“With the former Government, a code of good industrial labour relation practices was introduced with the intent that all employers throughout the Island develop good practices,'' he said.

‘'This was largely as a result of the number of complaints received from employees on fairly straightforward labour relations issues.

“The then Government publicly stated that if the issues were not addressed there would be legislation put in place. Then once the new Government was in place, and because they did not see improvements forthcoming from some employers who were flying in the face of good labour practice, it moved on introducing the Employment Act.''

Speaking of his new position, Mr. Dixon conceded that he expects to have fewer demands put on him, but he will continue in advising employers on both labour relations, trade union matters and in human resources services. He said he will also remain active in advising employers on the Employment Act.

“Certainly with the Employment Act it is going to be very important that people giving the practical application of the Act have an in-depth knowledge of labour relations. I will be working closely in this area, in my new post,” he said.

Mr. Dixon is also being retained by the BEC, on a consulting basis over the next year.

Mr. Dixon came to Bermuda some 40 years ago, and said he has been involved in labour relations over that period through positions with Bermuda Properties, Oxford Laundry, the St. George Hotel and Pearman Watlington.

“From day one, I got on so well with Bermudians, and I have taken a keen interest in the development of Bermudians and in people being treated fairly,” he said.

Of his early days on the Island, Mr. Dixon said : “This was in the days when the trade unions were starting to get organised and I have always wanted to try and help. I have been driven by that.”

Mr. Dixon said that on retiring from the BEC, Premier Jennifer Smith wrote to him.

“It was a wonderful letter thanking me for helping to develop things in the service of my country. That made it all worthwhile,” he said.

On a light note, Mr. Dixon said: “By not retiring from work, I can still be useful. Besides, I don't have enough hobbies to keep me absorbed. I love working in labour relations, and the whole element of working with people, and I feel I can still make a contribution. And it gives me a reason to get up in the morning.”

But, Mr. Dixon said there will always be “work” to do towards better labour relations. Of the next step, he said the Employment Act won't have teeth until the industrial tribunal is set up. The tribunal is due to be in place by the time the Act takes effect in March, 2002.

Mr. Dixon said the tribunal is the equivalent of an industrial court, and any labour related matters go to the tribunal, rather than through the regular court system.

“It will be an avenue for people as there has been no mechanism to act on a complaint. If you went to the labour relations office and said ‘I want something doing here', all they could recommend is going to a lawyer or a trade union. Now there will be a mechanism for labour relations officers to pursue complaints,” he said.