So what, Dr. Brown?

Tourism and Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown, on yesterday’s walkout of bus drivers:

“Bermuda cannot go on this way. Whether we are in the tourism business or not, the country cannot withstand the cumulative impact of repeated work stoppages.”

So what are you going to do about it, Dr. Brown?

Comments

[harrytuttle on 04.07.06 at 13:06]

"Now that's a plantation question Phil."

[Tiger Bay on 04.07.06 at 13:16]

Of course, he's correct. The BIU is a passive aggressive bully.

[Ali on 04.07.06 at 13:30]

Sorry Limey but I don't get your question. Dr. Brown is Tourism Minister and not responsible for Labour. He made a clear statement and I would think it is up to others in Government to come forward and show some fortitude in dealing with the union. He's doing his job, but is sadly one of the few.

[Jake on 04.07.06 at 13:34]

At least EB gets it.

The whole country was held hostage because of a job classification dispute at PTB over some mid-level post?

This has to beg the question: where is the Union 'Leadership'?

Surely such a problem could be solved by way of arbitration, or mediation or whatever other dispute resolution process deemed fair (drive by shootings, notwithstanding)?

I feel for the people who rely on the buses because they have no other choice, and I resent the way a problem is turned into a crisis.

The Union members need to know that when they follow this kind of course their assets will be put at risk. It is the only way to ensure that we can keep the country running despite the internal workings of unionized organizations.

[sandgrownan on 04.07.06 at 13:37]

Ali - he's also transport minister and deputy premier so has some responsibility here. Either way it's just more rhetoric with no chance of action.

[Phil on 04.07.06 at 13:40]

Ali

Dr. Brown is also the Transport Minister (with responsibility for the public bus service), the Deputy Premier, and a member of the Cabinet (with collective responsibility for everything).

He is not the only member of the Government who needs to act to bring the unions to heel, however he is clearly in a position of considerable influence.

[Tiger Bay on 04.07.06 at 13:42]

Annnnd, Laverne is his cousin!

http://www.plp.bm/news.php?aid=51

[Ali on 04.07.06 at 13:46]

Sand, I hear so much about tourism I rather ignored EB's transport hat, guess he will have to alternate hats to solve this one!

[lost in flatts on 04.07.06 at 13:56]

I say see what Thatcher's up to these days, hire her as a 'union consultant'...

[sandgrownan on 04.07.06 at 14:01]

A summer of discontent looms, rising crime, wildcat strikes and we haven't even started on public sector pay yet (in the context of increases for MP's). Never mind the real rate of inflation...

[Martin on 04.07.06 at 14:04]

Given that it is generally well known that "Ewart gets what Ewart wants" when it comes to legislative change ( e.g. Limo licences), why does he not propose legislation to outlaw industrial action by public services in total?

He can't be afraid of alienating the BIU...he already lost the taxi drivers - so a few more won't matter.

[silencedogood on 04.07.06 at 16:42]

I've always wondered why there needs to be any union in Bermuda when workers, at least Bermudian workers, have such disproportionate bargaining power than management.

A worker can leave and have another job within a day or two while an employer has the unenviable choice of:

1) looking in the local market of unemployed workers which is extremely small and often underskilled or with a bad attitude,

2) trying to poach employees off a competitor which is expensive,

3) hiring an expat which is even more expensive and and brings tons of headaches from dealing with immigration and doesn't always produce a good employee, or

4) outsourcing which may not be possible, is distasteful from a national perspective, and is sometimes not any cheaper.

I know many will vehemently disagree, but in my opinion, unions accomplish little and cater to the lowest common denominator. This and the BUT strike are just two examples.

[shipwreckedcanuk on 04.07.06 at 17:13]

I actually just got the REAL quote:

“Bermuda cannot go on this way. I must travel to some fantastic resort in order to discuss this with people who couldn't care less. Whether we are in the tourism business or not, the country cannot withstand the cumulative impact of repeated work stoppages. I need all of you working in order to finance my next fact finding mission's hotel bill.”¡

By the way- the Government is spending $30,000 A DAY for travel alone.... A police cadet makes less than $25,000 A YEAR and a constable starts at under $40,000 A YEAR.

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 04.07.06 at 17:22]

Sandgrownan,

"Never mind the real rate of inflation..."

Here you go again with this inflation thing. Please explain why you are so focused on the rate of inflation, what is the rate of inflation and how much of Bermuda's inflation is imported?

[busguy on 04.07.06 at 19:31]

I know many will vehemently disagree, but in my opinion, unions accomplish little and cater to the lowest common denominator. This and the BUT strike are just two examples.

Posted by silencedogood on 04.07.06 at 16:42

ARE YOU FOR REAL ?????????? MUST OWN YOUR OWN BUSINESS

[busguy on 04.07.06 at 19:34]

A police cadet makes less than $25,000 A YEAR and a constable starts at under $40,000 A YEAR.

Posted by shipwreckedcanuk on 04.07.06 at 17:13

Not bad as the cadet also receives an education at Bermuda College.
40,000 for a police officer ? Hmmm lot of money considering you cannot find one actually working.

[sandgrownan on 04.07.06 at 20:08]

Hey Guilden, you mentioned the widening gulf between the haves and have nots - let me tell you inflation has everything to do with that little problem. Specifically, when it comes to rent or "owning a piece of de rock"

[Combat Banker on 04.07.06 at 23:41]

Guilden the inflation issue here has not been imported in the traditional sense with goods and services. It is the cost of housing.

Essentially after tourism died and IB took over as the sole earner of foreign income, Bermuda became almost an extension of the urban US/Canadian housing market, where as before you could argue that it was purely rural. It's like forcing everyone to move from Ohio to 5th Avenue in a space of about 10 years.

Anyway, if you had equity already, ie were middle or upper class and likely white, you are somewhat insulated. If you are lower income with no equity, and most likely black, you will have no chance, no chance, of catching up.

Inflation is precisely the reason why the gulf between rich and poor has widened so much.

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 05.07.06 at 00:10]

Combat,

You have only shown why the inflation is imported. If housing is being used as the basket item for inflation and the inflated prices in the housing market are a direct result of international business, the international business are Bermuda-based, foreign capitalised entities and the increased demand for housing is due to foreign employees of international business, does that not equate to importation of inflation?

Please understand, that while I may live in the Bahamas, I was born and raised in Bermuda and left Bermuda at the age of 31. I know the history of the Bermuda market quite well.

Outside of housing, using the traditional basket of goods to determine the rate of inflation, I believe the latest inflation rate figures published showed that is was around 3%. I would not call that rampant inflation as Sandgrownan has labelled it.

I agree that the inflation in the housing market has caused the gap to widen between the haves and have nots but this inflation rate was inevitable due to the rapid growth of IB.

Personally, I believe the market was allowed to grow to quickly (it was not managed growth, the doors were simply opened and the flood was allowed in) because while it is good for the overall economy the average Bermudian is having a very difficult time making ends meet because from the Bermudian perspective salaries have not kept pace with the rising price of real estate due to the IB growth.

What real prospects does a young college graduate have of ever owning a piece of real estate in his/her own country?

But we have flogged that horse to death.

[Bermwewjan on 05.07.06 at 13:10]

Maybe this bus strike calls for EB to take another trip to Dubai and see how their public transport system runs? And hey, maybe the money the govt. is offering the middletons will cover the cost of his room for a night?