NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) – The prime minister of The Bahamas, Phillip Davis has described as “unlawful” a planned two-day industrial action, beginning on Monday, called by Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The dispute stems in part from a 2021 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) controversially signed by the ruling Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), along with trade union bodies, that promised a “Workers’ Agenda” to address pressing labour issues.

TUC president Obie Ferguson has warned that there will be a “reckoning” and the government will feel the “might of the workers” after three years of unmet demands.

But in an address to the nation, Davis said he had to address the “threatened unlawful industrial action” announced by Ferguson.

“He is an attorney and should well know about good faith and lawful conduct. The publicly proposed action is therefore surprising. It seems to me that in the face of this threat to break the law, the government must act. I appeal to members of the trade unions and their leadership to look at the facts. There is no issue that cannot be discussed and has not been discussed. You know that I have had an open door and the door remains open,” Davis said.

He added that it is curious that after days of trying to reach Ferguson by phone,” and his apparent refusal to answer his phone, he now publishes a voice note saying with the untruth that my government has not sought to resolve problems”.

Davis said that a meeting had been scheduled for 2.00 pm (local time) on Monday, adding “so is it not in bad faith to agree to meet then tell his members to go on strike?

“I am not standing on ceremony though. I am a prime minister that wants to resolve problems. But my concern is for the wellbeing of the nation. The question one must ask is why would the head of the TUC want to inflict harm on the nation when the problems can be solved by discussions and not an unlawful strike,” Davis said.

He said that he has consulted and remains in talks with his minister responsible for labour and the public Service, Pia Glover-Rolle, adding “she has done a yeoman’s job on the labour front and stands ready as do I to continue to engage.

“To be clear, today, my commitment stands. Union leaders, workers, my government, and all right thinking Bahamians want what is best for our Bahamas.

“We must and will make every reasonable, fair, and rational effort to provide proper health care, and save our economy with the movement of visitors, residents, and products entering and exiting our islands with the controls of Customs and Immigration. We value all other civil servants seeking some level of negotiated resolve,” Davis said.

At least 14 labour unions are expected to participate in the two-day strike, with Ferguson in a voice recording saying “despite regular meetings with the prime minister and ministers of the government, we have not been able to get the respect and support necessary to resolve many of our labour issues.

“All we got were promises and more promises. As my mother used to say, a promise is a comfort to fools. Well, we are not fools. And we now say enough is enough. In the morning, we will demonstrate that we have had enough. And the powers that be will feel the might of the workers.”

Ferguson said 14 unions are holding strike certificates and are prepared to take industrial action and that the unresolved disputes involved customs and immigration officers, the Bahamas Hotel Managerial Association, and national insurance workers.

TUC affiliates include the Doctors Union, the Consultant Physicians Staff Association, the Bahamas Nurses Union, the Bahamas Customs, Immigration and Allied Workers Union, the Bahamas Air Traffic Controllers Union, the Bahamas Public Officers Union, the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union, the Bahamas Electrical Utility Managerial Union, the Bahamas Education Managerial Union, the Bahamas Education, Counselors and Allied Workers Union, the Bahamas General Union and the Bahamas Hotel Managerial Association.

Labour Minister Glover-Rolle said the ministry “has taken note” of the strike threat and that relevant government agencies are preparing for potential disruptions.

Parents have been advised by the Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training to monitor the ministry’s Facebook page and respective school pages “in the event it becomes necessary to collect their children”.

In a statement, the main opposition Free National Movement (FNM), criticised the Davis administration, accusing it of “betraying unions and workers’ and failing to honour agreements.

FNM deputy leader, Shanendon Cartwright, said the government has “overpromised and underdelivered,” leaving many workers dissatisfied.