Trade unions as a large organized group in a civil society have contributed immensely to the development of the Bahamas.
- They are directly involved with economic systems of production and distribution.
- They influence the course and content of employment and social and economic policies.
- They are representative and accountable.
- They have experience in organizing the more vulnerable sections of society
- They have the experience and standing required to access national legal systems and public facilities.
- They contribute through their long-standing relationship with such development institutions as consumer co-operatives, housing societies, health finds and social society organization
The Trade Union the impulse power of conscious workers toward progress, a corporate body, it is the organic cell of all society”, that think and act in the name of all. It is an association conceived by ‘reformers’ that offer opportunity for daily conflict resolution with employers, for labour improvement and for settling claims. The trade union is an organic cell, a perfect combination capable of bringing about the expropriation of capital and re-organization of society. Their values and principles far exceed what we believe as “Sovereignty”, it is an essential part of a conscious people within the labour force that rises for the good of all workers.
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS
President………………………………………… Cleola M Hamilton NOII
1st Vice President………………………….. Jannah Khalfani RN
2nd Vice President…………………………. Peatrel Russell Sr. TCN
General Secretary………………………….. Julia Knowles NOI
Assistant Secretary……………………….. Eloise Cartwright NOII
Treasurer………………………………………… Julian Mullings NOI
Assistant Treasurer………………………. Sonja Francis NOI
Liaison Officer……………………………….. Margaret Daxon NOII
Numerous Shop Stewards deployed in New Providence and the Family Island.
Under the leadership of Mrs. Cleola Hamilton, this vision was officially birthed on May 17th 2009 with fellow nurses inclusive of Nurse Joan Lunn (deceased), a group of concerned nurses decided to organize themselves as a union representative group because they saw a need to have nurses speaking on behalf of nurses, presenting the issues of work & benefits (for resolution and improvement) to the authorities for the best interest of nurses. Nurses are the ones having the experience and feeling the injustice.
In 1998, the former Prime Minister – Hubert Ingraham, stated that the BNU would not be allowed to be formed.
The Bahamas Nurses Union was registered with the Department of Labour on the 17th May 1999 and is governed by its Constitution, the Labour Laws, the Constitution of the Bahamas and the International Labour Organization Conventions and Standards. The labour movement for nursing thus began!
To strengthen its new face in labour the Union signed on 18th November 1999 to become an Affiliate of The Commonwealth of the Bahamas Trade Union Congress. Despite such an accomplishment the leadership continued to face challenges with the Union becoming a recognized body. However, on 17th January 2003 the BNU officially became the bargaining Agent for Nurses in the Public Hospitals Authority and the following year on 23rd February 2004 the BNU became the bargaining Agent for the Nurses in the Department of Public Health by Determination of the Minister of Labour.
Another milestone met was on 10th August 2004 where a Recognition Agreement was signed between the BNU and the PHA for Nurses who are employed with the Public Hospitals Authority. The executives pressed on and were able to have another agreement signed on 25th June 2005 a Recognition Agreement was signed between the BNU and the Ministry of Health for the nurses deployed in the Department of Public Health.
December 2005 ushered in a wave for nurses new to the labour movement which led to nurses successfully holding a massive a sick out in the nation’s public hospitals which was a total of (4) four days. Which at the time crippled the healthcare system as the hospital functioned with a fraction of its nurses on the job. This necessary industrial action was needed as the government at the time had refused to meet with nurses to negotiate an Industrial Agreement which included higher wages and inclusive of Health Care Insurance and fair treatment. Intimidation tactics of arrests and phone taps were conducted. Labour “Fighters” hid out at Sandilands Rehabilitation Center.
“Members of the Bahamas Nurses Union must now decide whether they will heed a court order handed down by Sir Burton Hall or face contempt of court charges and be thrown in jail!”
The landmark ruling on Monday was handed down by the Supreme Court after being argued by Attorney General Micheal Barnett. Nurses must now huddle and decide their next move. On last week, members of the Nurses Union began a sick out campaign, a move which affected all public healthcare centers around the country. The protest was a move to force the government’s hand to honour their industrial agreement.” Nurses ordered back to work or face committal to prison says court | Bahamaspress.com
After paving the way for nursing Mrs. Cleola Hamilton was replaced by an invigorating young nurse in the person of Ms. Jannah Khalfani, whom during the March 18, 2013 elections, which was an historical moment for the Union as members offered themselves as candidates for executive positions for the first time. Ms. Khalfani was voted in as the second President of the Bahamas Nurses Union. During her term in office, she agitated greatly on the pertinent issues related to nurses which was both their rights and working conditions. These points were her ongoing fight during the negotiation process with the government. September 2014 ushered in another wave of uncertainty for the profession and nurses again walked off the job or did not report for duty, although this strike was part of a wider industrial action orchestrated by the Trade Union Congress. The issue at hand was the opposition of government officials not allowing the completed negotiation process to move forward whereas the agreements can be signed by the Public Hospital Authority and the Ministry of Health. This led to President Khalfani requesting the intervention of Labour Minister Shane Gibson to allow the process to progress as previously agreed upon.
In 2015, the Bahamas Nurses Union signed two five-year industrial agreements with the government, concluding years of agitation over concerns.
An era of change occurred in June 2016 when the nurses were ready for another leader of the Union the polls spoke and ushered in a new nurse leader – Amancha Williams. As a novice in the trade union, she decided to take the mantle to lead nurses and to continue with the fight to ensure better conditions for nurses. This leader would span two terms the nurses would then again place her back as the President in June 2019 which resulted in her team successfully signing the next 5-year Industrial Agreement for nurses for the period 2020 to 2025.
In 2019 under President Amancha Williams nurses voted to take industrial action after the government refused to grant the BNU a strike certificate for their first strike poll.
We have now stepped out in welcoming our fourth (4th) President in the person of Muriel Lightbourn who campaigned on transparency, accountability and the new way forward for the BNU. With her executive team it is hoped to boost the moral of nurses by empowering them every day, to bring change in the profession
Our Cause is to:
- Sensitize nurses to their rights as related to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and the Laws that deals specifically with Labour in the Bahamas.
- Fight for the rights of nurses in this country
- Uphold the standards of the Nursing Profession
- Lobby for better terms and conditions of employment.
Negotiated Recognition Agreement between the Public Hospital Authority and The Bahamas Nurses Union and the Ministry of Health and The Bahamas Nurses Union.
Negotiated a five (5) year Industrial Agreement with the PHA, This Agreement stipulates the terms and conditions of employment for all nurses employed by the PHA and it is adopted by the Ministry of Health for the nurses in the Department of Public Health with a few modifications that are specific to public health nursing.
We have already set in motion the foundation for a corporative credit union for nurses and other members of the public.
The BNU have conducted and assisted with a number of seminars and workshops in an effort to educate our members, as one of our main focuses is human resource development and life long learning.
We have assisted nurses, members and non-members alike with fire and hurricane relief. On a daily basis the BNU addresses concerns of its members and non-members alike with positive outcomes, so as to promote harmony in the work place.
The BNU is in the process of reviewing existing institutional policies regarding their legality. (It is our view that because it is a policy of the institution makes it fair, right and legal).
Cleola Hamilton started but the journey concluded with Jannah Khalfani who fought for the implementation of a Group Medical Insurance for Nurses with the PHA and the Ministry of Health.
The BNU is the most powerful instrument available in the nursing profession today, because it is the voice of a unified people fighting for one cause, which is to elevate and preserve the nursing profession for future generations.
Nurses have become more aware of the value of a nurse’s union. We have empowered ourselves in a spirit of solidarity planning our own future.
Officers of the Union are Elected through a democratic process every three years. This process is conducted by the Department of Labour.
To become a member of the Bahamas Nurses Union one has to be registered by the Nursing Council of the Bahamas.
The BNU works closely with our employers in a tripartite relationship to promote harmony and good industrial relationship in the work-place. It also promotes the rights of foreign nurses employed in the Bahamas.
DO YOU KNOW IT IS AGAINST THE LAW OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS TO PROHIBIT AN EMPLOYEE FORM JOINING A TRADE UNION, BY HAVING SUCH PROVISION INSTITUTED IN THEIR CONTRACT?
THE STATUTE LAW OF THE BAHAMAS
CHAPTER 321
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
PART VII
SECTION 78
STATUTES: “(1) no employer shall make it a term or condition of the employment of any employee that, that employee shall be or shall not be or become, a member of any trade union; and any such term or condition in any contract of employment shall be void, and any such contract shall have effect as if such term or condition were not contained therein.
(2) Any employer acting in contravention of the provisions of subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine……….”
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS
(WHICH IS THE SUPREME LAW OF THE BAHAMAS)
CHAPTER 111
PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF THE INDIVIDUAL
SECTION 15
“Whereas every person in the Bahamas is entitled to fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, that is to say, has the right, whatever the race, place of origin, political opinions, color, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest, to each and all of the following, namely
- life, liberty, security of the person and protection of the law;
- freedom of conscience, of expression and of assembly and association.”
SECTION 24
(1) Except with his consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of peaceful assembly and association, that is to say, his right to assemble freely and associate with other persons and in particular to form or belong to trade unions or other associations for the protection of his interests.