Employees of a wholesale company seeking to implement a new payroll system that could leave them short of cash for several weeks are considering staging a strike this Friday.

BDC2000, which forms the family of companies including BGA, Brown & Co, Phoenix, Pitt & Co and SAL, up to this point had paid its employees three weeks in advance of work carried out.

However, the new system will see them being paid in arrears — after their work is completed.

As such, the wholesaler told staff that as the system is introduced, it will only pay employees one week’s remuneration for the month of September but has reportedly offered loans to make up the shortfall, among other options.

According to a spokesman, the company has given staff until this Friday to sign a consent letter from management agreeing to the changes and accepting the interest-free loan.

He said repayment would begin in April 2027 with a portion of money being deducted from the monthly pay for a three-month period thereafter.

Other options aside from the loan included giving up three weeks of vacation time to pay back the money, forfeiting funds accumulated in an existing Christmas company savings account to pay it back without penalty, or opting out of all the options completely and “taking the hit” financially.

Chris Furbert, the president of the Bermuda Industrial Union, staged a meeting with employees yesterday morning during which he encouraged all workers, unionised and non-unionised, to unite against the company’s decision and strike.

In a recording shared with The Royal Gazette, staff said if the company refused to negotiate, they would use that day as an occasion to down tools.

The company spokesman said BDC2000 is prepared to meet with the union again but will not be changing its stance. He also said the company would not agree to pay staff weekly during the shortfall period — an option suggested by the union.

Mr Furbert urged staff not to sign the consent letter and suggested that as many employees as possible turn up to the BIU building on Friday morning at 8am on Union Square rather than turn up to the workplace and potentially be asked to leave the premises.

Mr Furbert was heard saying in the meeting: “Hopefully the persons who are not here [management] understand why we are having this conversation. Everybody should come on Friday.”

He said he would tell management: “We understand you have changes with payroll, my members and your staff told me they can’t afford to go without pay. They have told me about the deadline of September 4. They will meet at BIU on September 4 and are not coming to work.

“This situation requires all of you coming together — you will get the result you are looking for.”

He said he would have a conversation with company chairman Wendall Brown to warn him of the potential action and provide an opportunity for a rethink.

An employee, who did not wish to be named, said it would be difficult to make ends meet because of the way the system is being implemented.

The Gazette will provide more details as they become available.