By KEVA LIGHTBOURNE | Guardian Senior Reporter | kdl@nasguard.com

The Ministry of Labor has foiled plans by the Bahamas Industrial Manufacturers Allied Workers Union to take strike action against Morton Salt Bahamas at this time.

Labor Minister Dion Foulkes confirmed yesterday that his decision to refer the dispute between the warring factions to the Industrial Tribunal has effectively "put a hold on any industrial action until the matter has been heard."

Foulkes stressed that the company's management and the union must wait for the outcome of the tribunal's decision before any further action can be taken.

"The matter is interpose by the tribunal, which means that they must hear it as soon as possible," the minister said.

More than two weeks ago, 99 percent of the unionized staff at the Inagua salt plant voted in favor to take strike action against the company, after one of its own had been sacked from the company.

Ken Rolle, a master electrician and vice-president of BIMAWU, was fired several weeks ago after he was accused of illegally restoring electricity to a residence on the island.

In an interview with The Nassau Guardian on Wednesday, legal advisor to the labor body Obie Ferguson said the referral had no real effect on the intended industrial action.

"I am not familiar with the terms under which the matter has been referred. The strike vote is independent, as I understand it, from any referral and that the referral of the matter to the tribunal does not stay the strike vote."

Ferguson did admit, however, that the matter was somewhat confusing as union officials have not received any feedback from the tribunal on a date, time, and the question of cost.

At that time, he said the union still had plans to forge ahead with the strike action.

In an earlier statement issued to The Guardian, the BIMAWU accused Morton Salt of "taking advantage of its workers for far too long. They have even made a mockery of the Labor Department, which the government has put in place to reconcile labor issues in this country."

The potential for industrial unrest at the Inagua salt manufacturing company continues to brew amidst its recent acquisition by Rohm and Haas at a cost of $18 million.