Good labour relations are based on "honesty, mutual respect and trust" according to the President of the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU), Chris Furbert.

In his message to the 27th annual Labour Day Banquet, Mr. Furbert also called for discussions to happen before, rather than after, a problem arises in industrial relations.

In June, labour relations with Government came to a grinding halt when up to 5,000 workers marched on Parliament in solidarity with the Bermuda Police Association and the Bermuda Public Service Union which were both protesting Government's call for a judicial review of their binding arbitration awards.

For the first time, the demonstration also included up to 200 members of the Bermuda Police Service — nearly half the total service — even though they are not allowed to strike or picket.

They were joined by the Bermuda Trade Union Congress, which includes the Bermuda Union of Teachers, Association of School Principals, the Bermuda Prison Officers Association, Bermuda Federation of Musicians and Variety Artists, and the Electrical Supply Trade Union.

In the Labour Day Banquet programme on Friday, Mr. Furbert, who did not reference a particular sticking point between the Government and the unions, wrote in the evening's programme guide that the only way to avoid serious conflict would be for everyone to come to the table before decisions are made.

He wrote: "When we speak about industrial relations and the various roles that the Government, the Employer and the Union play there is a clear need to understand that in the true spirit of the tripartite relationship, there must be ongoing communications before major challenges arise and not after they arise.

"We need to remember that while it is necessary for the social partners — Government, Employers and Union — to communicate regularly it is also important for all parties, Government, Employers and Unions to understand that in order for us to have good industrial relations WE MUST MAKE CERTAIN THAT HONESTY, MUTUAL RESPECT AND TRUST CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS CLIMATE.

"These conditions for good communications between social partners are interrelated. Trust is developed through honesty in all relationships."

Recognising that the Government had one of the toughest positions to handle trying to juggle interests of the people as well as also being an employer, Mr. Furbert wrote that the Government still needed to maintain law and order.

The only way to do this and to ensure the Government's back is not against the wall was for proper communication before things get bad.

In July this year, the Bermuda Public Service Union (BPSU) decried the lack of communication when Premier and Minister of Tourism, Ewart Brown announced that US firm Sales Focus would take over the Bermuda Tourism New York Office.

This move would lead to about 20 Bermudian staff being made redundant and in a press conference in July, Ed Ball the BPSU general secretary, said that Government broke its agreement with the union by not consulting them.

The conflict finally made its way to court and the Ministry was served with an order of the Supreme Court prohibiting it from taking any further steps — including contracting out, outsourcing or privatisation of the New York office — as the union sought a judicial review.

On Friday the Government was again halted by a court order, if only temporarily, from trying to overturn the initial injunction.

Mr. Furbert does not refer to this issue or any particular event or discussion with Government, but wrote that mutual respect can only grow with time.

"The growth in mutual respect encourages more honesty and trust and increases mutual respect. But this will occur only if the social partners have regular communications 'before the fact' and not 'after the fact'.

"The relationship between parties must always be kept at a very high level by practising proper communications and the sharing of information.

"Once again, if all the parties are truly committed to maintaining and improving the relationship it will happen and if they are not so committed, then it will not happen."