Unusual Step as City Managers Sign Union Agreement

Mayor Gosling stated, "The negotiation for the management group at the City of Hamilton was a revolutionary Agreement for the City and indeed, Bermuda.

"It is not the norm for a management team, in the private sector or in a municipality, to have union representation. This is local government following in the footsteps of national Government, in recognizing the important role a union has in representing and protecting executive management and senior management staff while creating an environment that has a positive impact on morale, security, efficiencies and effectiveness within the workplace."

Mayor Gosling added, "The negotiation process comprised five meetings, between November 30, 2011 and December 14, 2011. Both parties were fair, flexible and focused on a resolution; enabling negotiations to be concluded within two weeks, which must be a record for a maiden Agreement.

"The negotiations were intensive and highly productive. In order to survive economically we must do things differently. The old ways of negotiating and reaching agreements are no longer appropriate in our changing environment. Management and unions must work together, side by side, not necessarily think outside the box, as it is my belief the box has been moved somewhere else and collectively we waste too much time trying to replace its missing structure with collapsed dogma of prior years.

"This Agreement is a good example of recognizing change, determining our surroundings, setting an agreed upon course and moving forward together."

Mayor Gosling asserted, "During my time in office and with the full support of the City's Aldermen and Councillors, we have strived for good governance. Upon taking Office, one of the immediate actions we undertook was to completely separate the Board from the day-to-day operations, thus protecting staff from interference in their jobs. This, with other measures, is incorporated in the Members' Code of Conduct that each Board Member signs when taking office.