Negotiations continue between BIU and ZBM to resolve dispute
Tentative hopes have been expressed by Bermuda Broadcasting Company and the Bermuda Industrial Union that ongoing industrial action at the ZBM/ZFB TV and radio broadcasting station is heading towards resolution.
A "work to rule" has been in place at the company since mid-June and further staffing problems have led to curtailment of some broadcasting output, including the Sunday evening TV news bulletins for the past two weekends.
The departure of news anchorman Gary Moreno followed by long time sports reporter Mike Sharpe, has also reduced the pool of on-camera staff for broadcasts.
Senior broadcaster Sangita Iyer has also been off air for the past week. Ms Iyer was unavailable for comment, but a source told The Royal Gazette the station's lead news presenter will be returning to work later this week.
A letter from the BBC directors addressing numerous staff complaints and requests has been sent to the BIU and the union is preparing its response.
The industrial unrest is rooted in alleged poor working conditions and pay levels. Staff have been refusing to work beyond their contractual obligations since the dispute escalated on June 19 with a walk-out by staff at
The company runs two TV channels and three radio stations.
Bermuda Industrial Union president Chris Furbert said: "Progress has been made. We have had a letter from the board and we met with the staff there last Thursday. The letter from the board addresses some of the concerns of staff. We will be responding to the letter."
Both Mr. Moreno and Mr. Sharpe had announced their intentions to leave the company before the present dispute blew up. Job adverts for a replacement to Mr. Sharpe on the sports desk were issued in the second half of June.
BBC's TV and radio broadcasting manager Darlene Ming said: "The work to rule continues and the management continues to make every effort to bring the changes that the staff have asked for."
She said the lack of a Sunday TV news bulletin for the past two weeks was more to do with a shortage of available staff members than directly a result of the work to rule. Ms Ming said she expected the Sunday news to resume as of next weekend.
The lack of a sports reporter has meant using the services of IslandStats to provide sports news.
Ms Ming said: "We have an arrangement with IslandStats and they are providing well-balanced and well-rounded sports news. We are quite happy with that arrangement."
She added: "We are extremely hopeful of a resolution soon. We need to get back to the business of broadcast in all its facets. The management is reacting to the requests and complaints from our unionised staff."
