Minister of Education, Science and Technology Alfred Sears announced that yesterday’s signing of the first Collective Bargaining Agreement was a historic one as it is the first document signed by the parties since the execution of the recognition agreement of 1965.
According to Minister Sears, this agreement will provide for peace and harmony in the workplace and will recognise the need or the establishment of a framework within which the industrial relations would be properly managed and pursued. In the end, the five-year agreement will pay out approximately $20.5 million to Bahamian teachers.
The BUT had been pushing for a lump sum payment of $4,000 plus other increases and benefits . The BUT has a membership of 3,500 teachers and its proposal would have cost the government more than $56 million, but the union settled for the $20.5 million offer.
“This agreement establishes a platform on which we are to proceed in the best interest of the education of the children of our archipelago,” he said. “It formalises a partnership for the enhancement and transformation of the educational system in a world of increasing globalisation, trade, liberalisation and technological advances.”
The long awaited agreement included salary increases which include, in Year One, a $1,800 one-time payment this month; Year Two, $2,400 added to the base salary in September; Year Three, an increment of $700; Year Four, $125 per month added to base and in Year Five an $800 lump sum that must be paid before June 2010.
Minister Sears added that the maximum scale pay of $31,200 for teachers would be increased to $33,600 as of September and then to $34,000 as of September 2007.
Also included in the agreement was various categories of leave including sabbatical leave (vacation) which can be taken for 12 months with full pay after 10 years of “outstanding service” and union leave.
Pregnant teachers wanting travel leave in severe hardship posts will get three days. A paternity and adoption leave have also been included in the agreement. Various categories of allowances have also been earmarked, ranging from itinerant allowances, housing assistance, responsibility allowances, coaching allowances, cultural activities, extended learning allowances and a multi-grade allowance for those Family Island teachers who are forced to look after students throughout the whole school.
And while BUT president Ida Poitier-Turnquest said she is “very satisfied” about the outcome, Minister Sears reminded them that as teachers, that they must keep up their end of the bargain.
“The agreement does not only address the right, privileges and remuneration of teachers, but sets out the duties of all teachers,” he explained. “They include the duty to respect the rights of students, teach diligently the subjects and course of study, implement teaching strategies that foster a positive learning environment, encourage students in the pursuit of learning…”
Minister Sears also challenged the teachers to take on other initiatives that would be in the best interest of the students.
Mrs Poiter-Turnquest said while she is happy that they have been able to agree on a number of pressing issues, the government was unable to establish a maximum class size or to agree a timeframe for beginning a review of the curriculum.
“This agreement mandates a more consultative arrangement between the parties, which should result in more collaboration and less confrontation,” she said. “Between 2006 and 2008, we will be full partners. We will be working together as partners in education.”
By: IANTHIA SMITH, The Nassau Guardian
