Teachers’ union joins opposition to new labour legislation
The teachers union yesterday joined forces with other labour organisations to oppose legislation designed to give non-union members a vote to end representation.
The Bermuda Union of Teachers backed the Bermuda Trade Union Congress, the Bermuda Industrial Union and the Bermuda Public Services Union to fight the introduction of law that would allow non-unionised members in a workplace to have a vote on decertification.
The House of Assembly passed the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act on December 11, but it has yet to be approved by the Senate, which will sit next Monday.
The BUT said it was “fully supportive of our sister unions in opposition to the recent passing of legislation designed to allow for the decertification of unions in workplaces”.
It added: “Unionism is a right of every worker, and the struggle to improve conditions for workers has been an historically imperative one – it is the story of human evolution through compassion, determination, and solidarity.”
Mike Charles, the general secretary of the BUT, said he expected that “prudent minds will eventually prevail”.
Mr Charles added he had been a member of the original committee that worked on the legislation.
He said it evoked “unsettling thoughts of attempts to demonise workers’ unions”.
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