The Ministry of Public Service announced yesterday that a committee of experts has been appointed to complete expeditiously the contract negotiations between the Government and The Bahamas Public Service Union.
The committee comprises representatives from the Ministries of The Public Service, Finance, National Security and Education, together with Industrial Consultants Keith Archer and Frank Carter.
Stating that he has met with representatives of the Union, Foreign Affairs and Public Service Minister Fred Mitchell said his discussions with them took place following a meeting of the inter-ministerial task force which included him, the Minister of Education and the Minister responsible for Finance.
“It is our hope and intention that the parties will in good time be able to bring the outstanding issues of salaries and benefits to a successful conclusion in the form of firm and agreed recommendations to the Ministry without artificial deadlines, but clearly as expeditiously as possible,” Minister Mitchell said. “After the Committee completes its work, I will review its recommendations and present them to the Government for its approval.”
A spokesman for the Ministry noted that the terms and conditions agreed by the new contract would be reflected for public servants once the negotiations are complete and the recommendations of the Committee are ap-proved by the Ministry and the Government.
While the results of the negotiations will not be reflected in the July pay packet any settlement will be backdated to the first of July, 2005.
In the Budget communication presented in the House of Assembly on May 25, by Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia Pratt, it was stated that a climate of harmonious industrial relations in the public sector is important to the Govern-ment and the nation.
In this regard, Minister Pratt noted that the governing leaders of the country are presently reviewing its responses to the proposals on labour issues by the public sector unions and staff associations.
“In order to assist in our responses to the proposals, we expect to commission a study by an international expert on the orderly and equitable evolution of public sector pay and other benefits in the medium-term. The study would also include the actuarial costing of the pensions and other benefits arising,” Minister Pratt said.
“The Government is also interested in requests from some of the staff associations and public sector representatives to examine the issue of leap frogging whereby a pay increase granted to one group and not to another results in anomalies which cause dislocations in the service.
“The idea is to further study this issue with a view to establishing transparent principles so that increased demands by one group will not be met without regard to the principles applied to another group.
The Deputy Prime Minister continued by saying that it is important for a link to be established between public sector pay and productivity and for it to done to the enhancement of the competitiveness of the economy.
“Accordingly, the Mini-ster of Foreign Affairs and Public Service will be contacting the public sector unions to discuss the matter further,” she said. “In this context, the Ministry of Finance has in its budgeting provided some funding in anticipation of pay increases for public servants and related groups, following comprehensive and harmonious negotiations. The budget provision also provides for increases in pensions for retired servants.”
By LISA S. KING, Freeport News Reporter
