Some employees of these companies told The Bahama Journal last week they feared losing their jobs because of this new agreement.
Mr. Farquharson called for employees of both newspapers to contact him at the BCPOU Hall on Farrington Road so the union can protect their rights.
"You have to come and let us fight for you. The BCPOU has a history both in the public and the private sector of protecting the rights of citizens. It’s time for them to come and join their brothers and sisters and let us work together. We are part of an organization that represents over 45,000 workers in this country," Mr. Farquharson said.
"And 45,000 workers in this country have tremendous economical power and if we decide to band together and fight for these workers in this country, I am sure whoever owns the Guardian and the Tribune will have to listen to us."
Vowing to continue his eight-year-long fight to conclude an industrial agreement for the Nassau Guardian, Mr. Farquharson said the BCPOU began talks with some Tribune staff members last year, who wished to become members of the union.
"The BCPOU is extremely concerned about the announcement of a possible merger between daily newspapers," he said.
"We know that we have a number of BCPOU members employed at the Nassau Guardian and we know that we received recognition from the Minister of Labour to be the sole bargaining agent for those employees since 1999."
The determination was challenged by the former management of the Nassau Guardian and the matter went to the Supreme Court which ruled in favour of the BCPOU, Mr. Farquharson said.
Contract negotiations started with management of the Nassau Guardian where both parties had signed off on a number of articles for a new industrial agreement, he said.
"Then the ownership of the Guardian changed and they took a very anti-union approach. Now that there is a possible merger with a newspaper that traditionally also resisted the trade union movement, the BCPOU is extremely concerned," Mr. Farquharson said.
"We are however resolute in continuing to pursue the Nassau Guardian. We have to contact the Minister of Labour to see how we stand as regards the merger and our recognition, but more so we are concerned about the employment of the staff at the Nassau Guardian and the Tribune," he said.
Although the new owners have publicly stated that both newspapers will remain separate entities "with competitive newsrooms and distinct editorial policies", Mr. Farquharson said he found this hard to believe.
"Usually when companies merge there is, in most cases, some sort of redundancies and downsizing. We will begin to make contact with our members at the Nassau Guardian and also to begin discussions with those persons employed at the Tribune. I firmly believe that the BCPOU will remain the bargaining agent," he said.
Mr. Farquharson said he will request a meeting with the new management of the company to articulate the union’s position and push for the resumption of talks for an industrial agreement for employees at both the Tribune and the Guardian.
"We had some initial discussions with some employees at the Tribune, but we had not officially begun an organizing campaign for them," Mr. Farquharson said.
"We believe that while the road ahead will be very, very difficult, we think we have the ability and the skills within our organization to convince the employees of the Tribune and the Nassau Guardian to join the BCPOU and let us negotiate terms and conditions of employment on their behalf to improve their quality of life and their standard of living."
The newspapers announced last week that they have signed a joint operating agreement.
Eileen Dupuch Carron of the Tribune was appointed chairwoman and publisher of the joint operation; attorney Emanuel Alexiou was named deputy chairman; Robert Carron has been appointed president of the Tribune Ltd, as well as chief operating officer of the joint operation, and Anthony Ferguson has been appointed president of the Nassau Guardian. Steve Haughey of The Tribune has been appointed financial controller for the companies.
The Guardian reported that managing editor John Marquis, of the Tribune, and Alison Bethel, managing editor of the Nassau Guardian, as well as Oswald Brown, managing editor of the Freeport News, will retain their positions and titles.
The announcement of the joint operating agreement followed the resignation of the Guardian’s CEO and publisher Charles Carter. The staff reportedly found out about Mr. Carter’s resignation while he was on a GEMS radio talk show last week Sunday.
"If there are any possible redundancies, then they must be done in compliance with the law and we can go ahead and negotiate an industrial agreement which will protect you in the future," Mr. Farquharson said.
In the past, the BCPOU has been concerned that employees of the Guardian have not stood together because they feared being victimized.
"This has been a concern not only during my tenure, but prior to my tenure. Traditionally, employees have been a bit skeptical, but I think that the last few rounds at the paper is a clear indication that the management of the paper really and truly doesn’t care about the employees," Mr. Farquharson said.
"It is the trade union movement…that is fundamentally responsible for ensuring that the rights of the workers are protected and I want to encourage all the employees in the Guardian and the Tribune that you’ve talked the talk …now it’s time to walk the walk."