s WORKERS Volume uary 21, 2010 BIU Executive Members at High Belmont/Newstead Level Washington Meeting Staff Hit Hard by Sister Ronnie Burgess (Washington Discussions with the World y^^^ D.C, 18 January Bank will focus on the twin challenges ^Riwe^^ 2011):Addegation ofdevdoping pnxecdon (/labour standards Bro. Chris FurtMrt of over 60 trade in Bank-suppotted loan programmes union leaders from all parts of the worid and of ceasing attacks on labour protection is beginning a 3-day series of meetings in the Bank's notorious "Doing in Washington D.C. with the Managing Business" publication, as well as Dircaor of the IMF, the President of the considering the Banlcs role in the extension of sodal protection woridwide. Mr. Gil Tucker (far left) of Ernest & Young World Bank and other senior officials, listens in as employees of Newstead voice as well as with the Executive Directors Trade union views on the world their concem. of those instimtions. The Bermuda economic situation are detailed in a new The Belmont/Newstead being Industrial Union is represented at this statement on trade union priorities fi)r put into receivership has hit the meeting by President, Brother (Dhris the French Presidency of the G8 and employees of those two properties very Furbett, Research Officer Brother G20 in 2011 that has just been rdeased: hard. The Bermuda Industrial Union Cal Smith and Treasurer Brother The ITUC represents 176 million met with the staff while the receivers Cecil Durham workers in 151 countries and territories (Ernst & Young) explained what their "In view of the continuing and has 301 national affiliates job was as recdvers. unemployment crisis worldwide, it is Brother Chris Furbett and There were two separate vital that the IMF and World Bank Brother Cal Smith will travd from meetings hdd one at the Belmont Hills recognise the importance of maintain­ Washington, D.C to Barbados to attend and one at Newstead. ing global economic stimulus until a similar event hosted by the Caribbean At both meetings staff recovery is assured," stated ITUC Devdopment Bank-International Labour c:q>rcssed thdr sadness at the news that General Secretary Sharan Burrow. Organisation (CDB-HJO). The symposium they had received. The owner The union ddegation will be will take place at the Lloyd Erskine Mr Kevin Petty tearfiilly calling on the IMF to take a position Sandiford Centre in St. Michad, explained to the staff what had against the attacks on wages and workers' Barbados on January 25 and 26, 2011. transpired in the hours from the time rights contained in the austerity The International Trade Union he received a call at 8:01 am. on programmes implemented in countries Congress is ^nsoring thc'^X^shingpon event Monday morning, January 17, 2011, such as Ireland and Romania, as well as for the executive members of the BIU, requesting him to be at his office for a to advance the case for a financial while the International Labour Organisation meeting with the receivers. transactions tax (FTT). is sponsoring the event in Barbados. • continued on page 12 WORKERS VOICE NOW 50 CENTS For the first time in well over a decade, ihe price of the Workers Voice has been increased from twenty-five cents to fifty cents. Readers will appreciate that the cost of printing and production of printed material in Bermuda has increased over the years and the Workers Voice, has had to meet the cost. Additionally, for the first time in the history of the Workers Voice our readers can enjoy a full colour newspaper, which is no longer printed in-house. E WORKERS VOICE PUBLISHED BY THE Bermuda Industrial Union 49 Union Square Hamilton HM 12 Bermuda T (441)292-0044 F (441)295-7992 E [email protected] RESEARCH OFFICER AND EDITORIAL ADVISOR Calvin Smith ([email protected]) EorroR iiVeme F LAYOUT AND Phaedra GENERAL COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES Shiriene Simons Annual Seaman's Service David Bean by Sister Ronnie Burgess Roger Parris PRINTED BY Members of the Marine pay tribute to those men and women The Bermuda Industrial Union &C Ports Division of the Bermuda that operate our sea faring vessels and Industrial Uruon along with family and ro remember those that have been lost friends turned out at the Chapd of at sea PUZZLE-SOLUTION Ease, in St. David's for the Annual Rev. Raths remarked that he Seaman's Service on Sunday, January fdt like *the catch of the day as the TRANSPORTATION I6di2011. church was adorned with fishing nets, The service was presided over replica boats, lighthouses and lanterns by Reverend W. David Raths with fidl to mark the spedal service. After the partidpation from the members of the blessing of the wreaths some members Marine & Ports Division. Bro. headed to the dock to board the pilot Edmund *Shinah' Simons (President of boat to head out to sea to place the the Marine & Ports Division) and Bro. wreaths upon the waters. Odwin Berkdey Sr (father of Bro. In attendance at the service was Odwin Berkdey Jr) read scriptures President, Bro. Chris Furbert, General while Bro. Darren Swan read a poem he Secretary, Sis. Molly Burgess, Divisional had written entided *Don t let time pass Organizer Bro. Graham Nesbitt as well us by. Bro. Daimy Richardson paid as other members of the Executive AIWIAHE FERRY RICKSHAW SNOWMOBILE BlCYCLf GONDOUV ROCKET SUBMARINE tribute in song and thanked the Board. Also in attendance was Mr DUMP HORSE ROUBIBLADES TRAIN BOAT JET SCOOTER TRAM CAMEL MOPED SHIP TRUCK seafarers for their services. Kim Swan, Leader of the Uruted CANOE MOrORCYOE SKATEBOARD VAN CARRIAGE PARACHUTE SKIS WAGON The service is hdd every year to Bermuda Party. • ELEVATOR RAFT SLED YACHT ESCALATOR Th* hlikton transportation mothod Is: HOT AIR BALLOON THE WORKERS VOICE JANUARY 21,2011 Annual EMT Church Service at Greater Smith's Church of God by Sister Ronnie Burgess EMTs cdebrated the 30th year injured that he himself having the EMTs for their service and he urged of the Annual Church Service personally benefited from their asmte them to continue to devdop thdr acknowledging the work done by the and caring skills. technical skills for the benefit of EMTs. Although this was the 30th year Bro. Ottie praised Dr Barbara the country. of the service this was the 31st service Ball for the role she played in getting Bishop Lloyd Duncan asked as one year the service was hdd twice. the EMTs to where they are today and the EMTs to come to altar as he prayed The guest speaker for the service this spoke of the 1964 Hospital strike that spedfically for our EMTs. The year was BIU President Emeritus, saw Dr Ball suspended from the hospital. congregation then moved outside for Brother Ottiwell Simmons. He stated there are not enough words the blessing of the Ambulance. Bro. Ottie gave a bit of history of gratimde and appreciation for Dr Also taking patt in the service of the service and thanked Pastor Ball's dedication and sacrifice to the was Mrs. Alice Robinson who read a Eugene Joell for seeing the need to hold Hospital Workers and BIU as a whole. poem she had written for the EMTs. such a service for our ambulance drivers He also paid tribute to former EMTs Mrs. Robinson along with her sister (as they were known back then). He those that are still with us and those that and daughter then sang a hymn for recalled the days when ambulance are now deceased such as Bro. Claude the EMTs. drivers had to wait for an English nurse (Smuggler) Burrows, Bro. Chrissie Pastor Joell was not able to before they could go out on an Brimmer Bro. Robert Scraders and the attend the service as he had a personal emergency call. However our DcVent brothers (one is deceased). family matter to deal with but his wife ambulance drivers who are now fiilly Those that are still alive are Brothers Quillard was a great stand in for trained Emergency Medical Vernd Davis, 'ymimy Duck' Pastor Joell. Technicians no longer waste precious Richardson and others. He also paid The Bermuda Industrial Union time awaiting an English Nurse. ttibute to Major Elverson, Jim pays tribute and would like to thank the Bro. Ottie paused and was moved to Challenor and Mr. Skatten whom he Brothers and Sisters that operate our tears as he thanked the EMTs for considered outstanding Hospital Emergency Services vchidcs. • managing to navigate our nattow streets Administrators. to treat and transport our sick and In dosing Bro. Ottie thanked JANUARY 21.2011 THE WORKERS VOICED BHB Signing On Thursday, January 13, 2011, Sister Molly Burgess, BIU General Secretary and BIU President, Brother Chris Furbert along with Bermuda Hospital Board (BHB) Chairman, Mr. Wendell Hollis and BHB CEO, Mr David Hill, signed a new two-year Clollective Bargaining Agreemem. Patient Familv Lounge Opened with New Patient Advocate Service Bermuda Hospitals Board today oflScially opened a new Patient I^ily Lounge on the third floor of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, along with a new patient advocate service to hdp patients and their families address issues while they are in hospital. The room was officially opened at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday 17 January 2011 by the Minister of Health, the Hon. Zane DeSihaJPMR Previously, there was no private waitii^ area for patient families at the hospital. While BHB constandy strives to improve clinical services for patients, the family and friends of patients are intend to thdr recovery. The lounge was opened to provide patient families L-R Rachelie Hendrlckson(from Facilities Dept), Judy Richardson (Chief of Nursing, Quality & with a place to wait, or a place of reflige Risk) Minister DeSlka, Preston Swan, David Hill and TonI Bridgewater.