The Future Leaders and the PR Committees of the BPSU kicked off its Quality Public Services Campaign on May 1st. The Campaign, which focuses on ‘superior service delivery’, will run to its finale on July 6th. President Kevin Grant made the official announcement during the International Workers’ Day Ceremony on the steps of City Hall.

The BPSU recognizes the importance of QPS as we play our part in the economic recovery of our country. We contend that QPS must begin with superior service delivery and we are at the forefront of demanding this from our members.

During the months of May, June and July we will host a number of events including workshops, a public forum and a reception finale.

Posters can be seen island-wide in our membership departments showing our support for QPS as well as our commitment to being “RARE” employees. RARE employees are committed to be:

Reliable – performing the required service dependably and accurately
Assuring – remaining knowledgeable and courteous, gaining trust and confidence
Responsive – willing to help customers and provide prompt service
Empathetic – being caring and paying individual attention to customers

We are encouraging all of you to embrace this campaign as our Executive and General Council have set the stage in showing QPS starts at the top.

Onwards and Upwards Together on the train called “QPS”

Sign into the “Members Area” to see a message from the President Kevin Grant

Brothers and Sisters,

The BPSU acknowledges May 1st as International Workers Day.

This year in conjunction with PSI we recognize those who were massacred in the Haymarket Riots that took place on May 4th 1886. The demonstrations held were to protest for an eight hour work day. We benefit from that protest today yet the fight continues as many are trying to squash our gains.

The right to collectively bargain and fight for workers rights has come under threat and because of those who made the ultimate sacrifice it is imperative that we acknowledge this day so that the fight was not in vain.

To bring this issue to a local perspective, May 1st is even more significant. It was in early May 1981 that trade unionism came to the forefront and changed the landscape of labor relations which allowed workers to enjoy some of the benefits that we take for granted today.

Therefore, we are calling on you to join us in celebrating the efforts of those who fought hard both locally and internationally. Join us on the steps of City Hall at noon as we hold up the Union banner high and say:

“no to drastic cuts to the public sectors;
no to initiatives that discourage collaboration and meaningful dialogue
and no to those who discourage the rights of workers to have collective bargaining agreements.”

Let’s raise our voice to protect our rights.

See you there.

Onward and Upward Together!

President
Kevin Grant

President Kevin Grant has released this statement:

As the Union approaches negotiations we recognize the importance of meaningful and open dialogue among stakeholders. We intend on playing a major role in the country’s recovery from one of the worst, or if not the worst, financial positions in its history.

We acknowledge that underlying interests can be significant factors in negotiations and collaboration. However, we have come to the point where personal interests will have to take a back seat. The state of the economy has put Unions in a predicament where a far more creative approach is necessary.

Many organizations and Governments, both locally and internationally, have had to embrace the concept of change. Our Union and its members should not be immune to this phenomenon. This concept of embracing change must not resonate fragmentarily within our society. It is a mindset that must be adopted by all stakeholders.

Job creation has been the ‘clarion call’ by a number of factions and the push for entrepreneurship to invigorate the economy is something that should be supported. Unions have always supported job creation because we know that a working population will turn around this economy.

The pressure placed on Government to downsize is quite evident, however, the approach must be pragmatic at a time when there is uncertainty and high tension within the labor force. If the goal is “economic recovery” then drastic cuts on the public sector could be detrimental. The very same initiative of encouraging entrepreneurship could be placed in jeopardy if there are not sufficient resources within the public sector to cater to these new businesses. Healthy competition in the business sector that drives comparative pricing should also be encouraged as this will surely benefit workers who are being asked to survive on less every year but still “Buy Bermuda”.

For the last three years Government departments have been asked to cut back on their budgets and forcing workers to constantly do more with less. Cutbacks on improving technological infrastructure have been endured, along with cutbacks to training budgets. Kudos, however, must be given to the Department of Human Resources and supportive departments who have done their best to make sure that Civil Servants receive required training.

The BPSU is aware that a number of reviews of the Civil Service have taken place. Unfortunately, we were not privy to the last Civil Service/Efficiency Review. It has always been our purview that if we have access to the results of any reviews, we can provide a perspective that may encourage buy-in from our members who drive the initiatives or recommendations.

This Union is well aware of the state that this country finds itself in. It has always been our intention to partner and encourage concerted collaboration with the Government, private sector and fellow unions. We are clear that this fight is not for the benefit of just us, it is for the benefit of the country and we are prepared to battle.

The BPSU has called its government members to a very important meeting to discuss the state of its negotiations with the Bermuda Government.

The current Collective Bargaining Agreement between the two expired in September 2011.

Sis. Angie Farquharson has been a qualified accountant for over 20 years. As a member of both the Bermuda Institute of Chartered Accountants and the America Institute of Public Accountants and various related associations, her work experience has covered, Bermuda, Bahamas and the United States.

Sis. Farquharson has been employed with the Bermuda Government since 2009, commencing her duties at the Accountant General Office as Relief Manager of Compensation and Benefits for two years before moving onto Comptroller of the same department. Currently she is Ministry Comptroller for the Non-Ministry related departments and is enjoying her role in this capacity.

Although this is the first BPSU post held by Sis. Farquharson she has always been interested in understanding the Union and its operations. President Kevin Grant put it best when she approached him about considering the Treasurer position, he said, “I am glad to hear that you would like to be involved, given the feedback you have provided during our general membership meetings.” She decided to take up the challenge to do more than just talking.

During her first months Sis. Farquharson has been learning many things about the Union and is looking forward to giving added value to internal controls and procedures as it relates to the everyday financial matters.

Married with a daughter her interests included exercising, travelling and mentoring young people to be the best that God has designed them to be. She is looking forward to getting to know more of the Union’s members as she joins the leadership team in moving Onwards and Upwards.

As we continue our campaign in support of Quality Public Services we present our brothers and sisters at Bermuda Customs.

Check out their video.

Customs

The Minister of Finance was quoted as saying, “it was a deliberate decision to use people from the private sector on the SAGE Commission as they were better suited than those in the public sector to respond to the urgent need for change”.

The BPSU wishes to remind the Minister that there is a wide range of professionally skilled members within the Civil Service and that we are cognizant of the duties and responsibilities of our members.

When reviewing the responsibilities of the SAGE Commission there seems to be some overlap. Not only does this Commission lack representation from trade unions, there also needs to be utilization of the expertise within in the Civil Service to encapsulate a greater tripartite initiative. There may have been a number of reports already conducted that have addressed the very same issues facing that this Commission.

I would hope that the Commission would engage and have meaningful dialogue with existing resources namely the Management Consulting Section of the Cabinet Office. This is a resource that is quite capable of assisting in finding solutions to issues such as reducing debt, decreasing unemployment rates and decreasing unsustainable expenditure.

The public sector is far too often stereotyped as being unproductive and we have very capable individuals throughout the Civil Service. At the same time Trade Unions are labeled for always being adversarial in their attempts to resolve issues. The BPSU has been concerned about the pro-business complexion of the SAGE Commission. Although, there could be some lessons learned from the private sector, this Commission cannot make assessments and recommendations about the Civil Service as though they are evaluating another private company. Implementation of any initiatives into the public sector must have buy-in from all pertinent stakeholders, and the approach of the Commission must be adjusted to embrace a more tripartite concept. There is no time for any heroics, we must work together and engage the valuable skills and experience of all the relevant resources. This will empower and motivate Civil Servants and rebuild confidence within the public sector.