Attempted Murders: none reported
Threats: none reported
Injuries: none reported
Arrests: none reported
Imprisonments: none reported
Dismissals: none reported

In the last elections, held in 2007, the Free National Movement (FNM) secured a majority in Parliament (23 seats), outnumbering the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and consequently, Hubert Ingraham, a member of the FNM became Prime Minister. The next elections are scheduled for no later than, May 2012. The economic downturn has also hit Bahamas as the global recession has caused a reduction in tourist numbers and tourism is the country’s main industry.
As a result of the recent financial and economic crisis which has had serious consequences for the country, Bahamas’ government announced that it has strengthened social dialogue social dialogue Discussion and co-operation between the social partners on matters of common interest, such as economic and social policy. Involves participation by the state where tripartism is practice. mechanisms to deal with the effects of the crisis.

While basic trade union rights are guaranteed, they are subject to many excessive restrictions. Private sector and most public sector workers have the right to form and join trade unions. However, the authorities have real discretionary powers to refuse to register a union, and to deny the required licence unions need to affiliate with any body outside Bahamas. The authorities also interfere with internal trade union matters, as the Registrar must supervise the secret ballot to amend a union constitution. The law stipulates that union representatives should be elected at intervals not exceeding three years.
Furthermore, the right to collective bargaining
collective bargaining
The process of negotiating mutually acceptable terms and conditions of employment as well as regulating industrial relations between one or more workers’ representatives, trade unions, or trade union centres on the one hand and an employer, a group of employers or one or more employers’ organisations on the other.
See collective bargaining agreement
is recognised, but a union must represent 50% plus one of the employees to be recognised as a bargaining agent
bargaining agent
A workers’ representative authorised to bargain collectively on behalf of workers in a bargaining unit.
See collective bargaining
. Also, if the employer and the union fail to reach an agreement after 12 months, the employer can apply to have the union’s recognition
recognition
The designation by a government agency of a union as the bargaining agent for workers in a given bargaining unit, or acceptance by an employer that its employees can be collectively represented by a union.
revoked.
In order to call a strike
strike
The most common form of industrial action, a strike is a concerted stoppage of work by employees for a limited period of time. Can assume a wide variety of forms.
See general strike, intermittent strike, rotating strike, sit-down strike, sympathy strike, wildcat strike
, the Ministry of Labour must approve the strike
strike
The most common form of industrial action, a strike is a concerted stoppage of work by employees for a limited period of time. Can assume a wide variety of forms.
See general strike, intermittent strike, rotating strike, sit-down strike, sympathy strike, wildcat strike
ballot, and can refer a dispute to the Tribunal if the parties fail to reach a settlement, during which time strike
strike
The most common form of industrial action, a strike is a concerted stoppage of work by employees for a limited period of time. Can assume a wide variety of forms.
See general strike, intermittent strike, rotating strike, sit-down strike, sympathy strike, wildcat strike
action is prohibited. The authorities also have the right to intervene in strikes to ensure the delivery of basic services and to uphold the “national interest”. The law restricts the permissible targets for strikes and appears to prohibit protest and sympathy strikes, and workers who participate in unlawful strikes face excessive sanctions including imprisonment for up to two years.


