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Report on the
Current State of Negotiations between The Bahamas Government and the
Bahamas Union Of Teachers
The public is aware that the
Government and the BUT have been in discussions regarding the 1st
Industrial Agreement between the parties. These discussions have not
progressed for primarily five reasons.
·
The
inclusion of management personnel (Senior Master/Mistress, Vice
Principal, Principal, Superintendent, Assistant Directors of Education)
in the Bargaining Unit.
·
The
inclusion of non-teachers in the Bargaining Unit.
·
The
inclusion of persons represented by other unions in the BUT’s Bargaining
Unit.
·
The
inclusion of non-existent posts in the Bargaining Unit.
·
Questions regarding the 1965 Recognition Agreement between the
Government and The Bahamas Union of Teachers.
In the spirit of good faith
negotiations the Government has compromised on all of these issues. The
Government has also on a parallel track established a joint
Government/BUT Task Force to address all outstanding issues with respect
to the salary and allowances of teachers. The work of this Task Force
and the Government’s continued cooperation with the Union is not
dependent on the outcome of these negotiations.
On Tuesday April 4th
the Government’s negotiating team arrived at an understanding that
issues regarding salary and wages would be discussed if a new proposal
based on the Government’s interpretation of the 1965 recognition
agreement were presented to the BUT on or before the 11th
April 2006. The Government’s negotiating team complied with this
deadline yet the negotiating team from the BUT led by the President has
refused to discuss salaries.
The Government side has
explained that resolving the issues of salaries before the end of the
fiscal year is critical. The lack of movement on the negotiating table
has made this critical because if it is not resolved before the end of
the fiscal year, it would certainly lead to an increase in the deficit
for the next fiscal year as funds allocated in this year’s budget would
have to be approved in addition to the payments for the next year. This
is not just a budget issue; this is an issue of prudent fiscal
management with wide domestic and international implications.
The BUT’s executives received a
confidential briefing from the Ministry of Finance/Central Bank on the
state of the Bahamian economy and its prospects, however, they have
chosen to ignore the facts. The leadership of the BUT has to understand
that one of the primary responsibilities of the Government is the
stewardship of the economy.
The BUT with a membership of
3500 teachers has presented the Government a proposal that would cost
more than $56 million. The remaining 17,000 members of the public
service will receive a minimum $42 million in planned increases over 5
years. If the Government would grant the BUT the increase being
requested the Government without a doubt for reasons of equity be forced
to grant similar increases to other public servants like doctors,
lawyers, policemen, Customs and Immigration officers, accountants,
nurses etc. and this would cost more than $340 million over 5 years or
more than $68 million a year; an amount that is simply unaffordable
given the current revenue base of the economy.
The Government’s position
through all of the negotiations is that salary increases would be
granted at levels that would not destabilize the economy. It is the
Government’s hope that the BUT executives at the meeting of Tuesday 18th
April 2006 would alter their stance and realize that success only
matters when you are able to enjoy it and every Bahamian depends on a
healthy economy to enjoy their success. The Government has no wish to
fight the BUT or prolong the negotiations, nor do the Government wishes
to inconvenience the parents and children in the school system.
The Government also appreciates
the critical role teachers’ play in the national development. The
compensation study currently underway will enable the Government to make
appropriate adjustments on an objective basis.
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