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Unions to consult members over wage cut proposal

Shine Hayward arrives for the TUC meeting over Government wage cut proposals. (Photo by Mark Tatem)

Bermuda’s unions met today to discuss Government’s wage proposals.“We wanted to be unified in our response to them,” said Trade Union Congress President, Shine Hayward.“We will be back in touch with our members because whatever we say to Government will reflect the request and the needs of our membership.”Mr Hayward said that there were “many concerns” surrounding the Government’s proposals.“We wanted to confirm that all of the proposals received by the respective unions were pretty much the same and we wanted to be on the same page moving forward.”The Bermuda Industrial Union, represented by its President Chris Furbert and Molly Burgess joined the Trade Union Congress, an umbrella organisation of about five unions, for the two hour meeting.Represented at the meeting at the Bermuda Public Services Union headquarters were the Island’s blue colour workers, essential services as well as civil servants.Mr Hayward said that the process going forward would be “very short”.“We’re sure that the Premier wants the feedback before the next Budget,” he said.But whether an agreement is hammered out by then “depends on how the Premier responds to our concerns”.“I’m sure that she will respond rapidly as it is her Budget that she wants to deliver.”Government has asked for an eight percent wage cut in return for a year’s freeze on payments into the pension system.Mr Hayward said: “We all appreciate the fact that we do need all hands on deck. And I think at the end of the day, based on the facts that we have received, I’m certain that the people of Bermuda would want to work with the Government and, vice versa, the Government working with the people to bring positive solutions to the crisis that we are now faced with.“Because if we don’t work together and find positive solutions it’s only going to get worse.”