“Balanced and appropriate for the times we are living in” was the verdict yesterday for the Throne Speech, from the Bermuda Public Services Union.

After an uncompromising standoff from unions over the threat of civil service outsourcing, the appraisal from BPSU president Jason Hayward gave Government relatively high marks.

“From a labour perspective, I didn’t hear anything that was strikingly alarming,” Mr Hayward said.

“I believe that the Speech from the Throne was moderate and included good initiatives that will seek to improve the economy and the social well-being of Bermudians.”

The speech contained sympathetic language for civil service workers, with Governor George Fergusson recognising “uncertainty and fear” engendered by plans to rein in public sector spending.

Calling such feelings “understandable”, Mr Fergusson said the speech acknowledged that the need to reform had arisen “through no fault of their own”.

Mr Hayward noted that the speech had capitalised heavily on the “collaborative culture of the community” after last month’s hits from Tropical Storm Fay and Hurricane Gonzalo, but said the spirit needed to continue.

“The Government has given commitment to work with the Bermuda Trade Union Congress on solutions that will seek to reduce government expenditure and the deficit,” he said. “The unions intend to participate in the working group as honest brokers, focused on achieving meaning results.

“The unions have been an active part of the exercise to consolidate labour legislation and we are pleased to hear that the proposed new legislation will be part of the current legislative agenda.”

The Throne Speech included the observation the Government had this year set aside $46.9 million in financial assistance. Mr Hayward called it an unfortunate result of high unemployment, but commendable, and said it highlighted the “dire” living conditions faced by Bermuda’s families and seniors.

But the BPSU president refused to give Government an overwhelming passing grade. “I would have liked to have seen more direct attention giving to our struggling seniors,” he said, adding also that the BPSU was “disappointed that there was no mention made of Government’s commitment to comprehensive immigration reform”.