Audrey Matura Shepherd, President - CWU
"We have copies of letters again to prove that the Prime Minister has once again been misinformed and by extension of him going only by heir misinformation has mislead this country."

"One of the questions that the workers say that it's unfair that the Prime Minister and those who spew his propaganda has been pushing is that CWU has failed FCIB workers. To that, the answer I am asked to give is and the answer to which I believe is that the government is the one that has failed the workers, because he never sat down to discuss with us or to hear our side of the story. The Prime Minister failed to tell this nation that on Monday August 31st while he was walking into the Biltmore Plaza Hotel to hold a press conference - while he was walking into that hotel, two female members of this union who are employees of FCIB approached him personally and hand delivered a letter to him that is signed by no other than the chief of steward of the union. We elected to go that way because the union members were concerned that he always has a personal attack and gripe against their president. So they ask the chief of steward to sign the letter so that the Prime Minister would have no excuse why not to answer them. They knew that he received it that day. That letter was dated August 28, they delivered it on that Monday and to date the Prime Minister has not answered them. In that letter they outlined what was the plight, what was their concern and they were pleading to him to assist them."

"The workers wish for me to convey that they are most disappointed with his approached. They had expected better and they want to remind him that there are 60 workers, 60 head of household and 60 people who can vote and by extension influence those who vote that he should have kept that in mind when he decided to speak only with the local manager Glen Smith, a Jamaican, who won't even stay in this country once that bank is closed. If he had listen to this side of the story of the workers, he would have known that a year ago FCIB was not even interested in the talking about any negotiation of a CBA. How quickly he forgets that a year ago, especially in the latter part of 2014, the issue that occupied FCIB along with the union was the issue of Ms. Martinez and the speaking of the Garifuna language at the bank. He does not know the culture with the bank and clearly he does not know why the employees were skeptical to rush into a negotiation, having heard rumors of a sale and so they ask me to convey a message of something that happened why they believe that the bank has always acted in bad faith and by the government aligning themselves with the bank, clearly they are encouraging that bad faith."

So, with the name calling, and the finger pointing out of the way, what exactly is the Union, and by extension the bank's employees, asking the Prime Minister to do to ensure that they get fair exit packages? That's what we asked Matura-Shepherd, and these are the options that the employees want him to seriously consider:

Audrey Matura Shepherd, President - CWU
"One of the key things that the government could do is definitely make sure that 1) the legal provisions are complied with. We have written the labor commissioner. What people don't know is that under the trade unions and employers organization, registration and recognition and status act, chapter 304, it is mandatory under section 43 that the employers should have sent a notice to the tripartite body. We have ask for proof that they have complied with the law. So we can start by asking the prime minister to make sure that FCIB has complied with every provision under the law."

"This section basically says that the employer who is going to sell a part of a business is or undertaking a company or other lease transfer or disposes of such part of the hold of the business undertaking a company shall, A) the purchaser, leasee shall be bound by all the pending litigation proceedings and anything before and any collective bargaining agreement entered into by the employer which is enforced shall continue."

"What people need to understand is that the 2013 CBA is still in enforced. There is a clause that says if we never ever sign another CBA, that remains the CBA up to that time that organization closes. So it's misleading what they are saying. There is a subsisting CBA. The reason they don't want to deal with a CBA is because they know the subsisting one exist. What they want to deal with is what is the exit package they'll get. What they will get when this business close down."

"What is something else the government can do? The government now has gone through the national assembly and rush through this law and its rush. Because in one day first, second, third reading, it goes to the senate tomorrow. The Prime Minister has not stated the commencement date. I think he needs to meet with the employees so that there be a discussion as to what that commencement date can possibly and plausibly be. 2) Once a legislation goes through the system, through parliament, it then needs to be sent over to the Governor General who will sign it and once the Governor General ascends to it, then it's gazetted. So before the Governor General signs it, there is still an opportunity for the government to ensure that the demands of the employees are met."

The FCIB Vesting Bill goes to the Senate tomorrow.