Government is seriously considering a union proposal to reduce the working week in Bermuda to 35 hours, it was revealed at the weekend.

The idea to shave two-and-a-half hours off the current working week was put forward to Cabinet by Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) President Chris Furbert.

The thinking behind it is that it could have an impact on the growing problem of youth violence because it would give parents more time to spend with their children.

Acting Premier Randy Horton told the BIU banquet at the Fairmont Southampton on Friday evening that Mr. Furbert's proposal was well received by the PLP Government, whereas any other party would have run him out of the office.

"We have said, Brother Furbert keep on talking, keep on talking, that conversation has been interesting," said Mr. Horton. "So don't be surprised when the deal is done.

"Currently you are working 37.5 hours a week. Your children long for your time more than they long for anything else. This concession though should not equate to lower performance."

Mr. Horton said the PLP was devoted to the working class and understood that "you work hard all day and you work harder when you get home".

He added: "It's no surprise that parents are working two or three jobs to keep up on things. Perhaps that might explain some of the anti-social behaviour we have seen."

Labour Minister David Burch also discussed the idea in his speech at yesterday's Labour Day rally at Bernard Park. He told the audience the Government had begun "serious discussions" about the implementation of a 35-hour working week.

"We are considering whether a change may have a positive impact on our families," he said. "If giving workers back two-and-a-half hours a week gives them family time then it's a worthy investment."

But Sen. Burch said any reduction in work time had to be matched with an improvement in performance from workers. "What about raising the bar on performance?" he said. "Bermudians have a strong and proud history as working people."

He mentioned Government's ongoing dispute over pay with Bermuda Police Association. "It's fair to say that it's a dispute that has gone on for far too long," said the Minister. "Among the people the Police serve i.e. you the public, their approval rating is incredibly low."

He said officers worked hard at a thankless task but added: "If the performance was higher it would be a lot easier to raise their pay."

Sen. Burch said increased manpower was on the way. "So what happens next? I expect crime-fighting to increase and public confidence to increase also."

The Minister was one of several speakers at the Labour Day rally which took place after the annual Labour Day march from Union Square.

Premier Ewart Brown told the audience he occasionally got into "hot water" with union bosses but that was to be expected. He said the important thing was to keep returning to the table and discussing the issues.

Opposition Leader Kim Swan said: "It is appropriate that the theme of today's celebrations – Unity Through Labour – should touch on something Bermuda desperately needs, which is a feeling of unity, a sense that we are not alone but that we are in this life together, all of us as Bermudians."

Young Bermudian Jason Hayward, chairman of Bermuda Public Services Union's Future Leaders committee, said young people had to be accountable and not lay the blame for everything at Government's door.

Bermuda Union of Teachers President Keisha Douglas got the biggest audience response after telling the story of one of her students at the Berkeley Institute: a girl who came to the school with the wrong attitude but whose demeanour changed after just one hour of attention from Ms Douglas.

She said teachers and parents needed to find the "seed" of potential in all youngsters and help to extract it.

March pictures – page 12