Minister of Education, Science and Technology Alfred Searstold the Bahama Journal that Cabinet approved the proposal on Tuesday, the day that government ministers normally meet.
The Government and the union had signed off on an agreement in principle over the summer with officials promising that the formal agreement would follow soon.
“The Cabinet at the sitting (Tuesday) approved the collective bargaining agreement,” indicated Minister Sears. “Therefore we will be in consultation with the Bahamas Union of Teachers for the formal signing of the agreement.”
President of the Bahamas Union of Teachers Ida Poitier-Turnquest on Wednesday declined to comment on the matter stating that she had not received any formal communication from the government. She promised a response only after that had been done.
The union was seeking better salaries and benefits for its 3,500 members. But the government has continued to maintain that it had to strike a balance between the unionﾒs demands and provisions that it could afford without further taxes. It also wanted to grant increases in line with what other civil servants had received.
Prior to signing the agreement in principle, the BUT had resorted to various forms of industrial action to force the government to give in to its demands, even refusing to participate in extra curricular activities after school time.
But in July after four arduous months of negotiations both parties endorsed a document that was designed to provide for “peace and harmony in the workplace.”
It recognized the need for a framework within which industrial relations would be properly managed and pursued. Under the five- year pact union members would be paid a collective $20.5 million.
The BUT had wanted a package that would have cost the government $56 million.
Both sides had agreed to provisions under which in year one teachers would receive $1,800 in a one time payment in July; $2,400 in year two added to their base salary in September; an increment of $700 in year three; $125 per month added to the base salary in the following year and an $800 lump sum paid in the final year.
Additionally the maximum pay scale would be increased from $31,200 to $33,600 as of September 2006 and hiked to $34,000 as of September 2007.
The proposal also made provision for 12-month sabbaticals after a teacher has given at least 10 years of outstanding service. Additional types of leave agreed upon were travel leave for pregnant teachers in severe hardship posts and paternity and adoption leave.
Various categories of allowances have also been approved ranging from itinerant allowances, housing assistance, responsibility and coaching allowance.
By: Stephen Gay, The Bahama Journal
