Their return to the negotiating table comes just three days after BEWU president, Dennis Williams, announced that a trade dispute was filed with the Department of Labour, and would go through the trade procedure up to the maximum level, which included lawful industrial action, strike votes and a lawful strike.
He also accused the Corporation of using “hard-line tactics and a take it or a leave it” approach.
However, it is believed that when they meet today, a new productivity clause will be introduced.
Of concern to both sides is the possible implementation of a High Performance and Merit Pay System for the Corporation workers.
According to a BEC source, the corporation will seek a proper system to govern compensation.
The corporation seeks to implement a system where compensation is governed by productivity.
But, according to Mr. Williams, several things need to be established before such an act can take place.
He called for the establishment of:
_ A National Committee to formulate policies and procedure for merit pay systems in The Bahamas.
– A National Productivity and Corporate Efficiency Regulatory Body to be instituted to benchmark worker productivity, executive productivity and general corporate efficiency before any merit pay is instituted in the Bahamian public sector.
“The reason these things must be done before implementation of the High Performance and Merit Pay System is because workers, managers and executives must be equally accountable and responsible for their actions in the public sector,” Mr. Williams said.
According to Mr. Williams his organisation and its consultants have been negotiating with the Corporation for almost four months for a new industrial agreement.
By Keva Lightbourne, The Nassau Guardian
