Bahamas Public Services Union President John Pinder on Monday warned that the BPSU would protest when the House of Assembly comes off its summer recess if the government refuses to agree to raise the salaries of civil servants by $150 per month.
Mr. Pinder said the union would take its cause to Rawson Square because it is determined to get the increases for its members.
With the BPSU election slated for Friday, he said he believes that the negotiators may be waiting to see if the post of president will change so that they can persuade the new person to accept the $1,300 lump sum payment offered by the government.
However, he said this is unlikely to happen.
“I have been advised that they are hell bent on pushing this lump some on us,” Mr. Pinder said.
“We want an increase and I have advised my members not to accept the lump sum and after election on Friday we will march when parliament opens and demonstrate downtown to show them our displeasure in the way they are handling this situation.”
Mr. Pinder had anticipated that the salary negotiations would be concluded by October, but government negotiators have said that that deadline is not realistic.
Several unions have rejected the government’s proposal of a $1,300 lump sum, which was to be paid in two installments – $600 in September 2005, and $700 in January 2006.
Last week, The Bahamas Union of Teachers presented the government with a counter proposal of a $4,000 lump sum to be paid in two installments – $2,000 in September 2005 and $2,000 in January 2006.
BUT President Ida Potier said that under no circumstances would the teachers’ union be willing to accept the $1,300 lump sum.
She said teachers – who continue to face poor working conditions in some instances and other on-the-job problems – deserve more.
The government is also facing pressure from the Bahamas Nurses Union.
Its president, Cleola Hamilton, said on Monday that nurses also deserve more than the $1,300 lump sum payment the government is offering.
By: Bianca Symonette, The Bahama Journal
