But president of the Bahamas Public Services Union John Pinder said Sunday that if funds are not in the bank on Tuesday, “the town would close.”
“There is no ifs ands or buts about that. It’s just the struggle of trying to ensure that the persons from the Airport Authority, who should be a part of this agreement, would receive theirs ($600) now. We had some positive talks with the minister (Glennys Hanna-Martin) on Friday, so for the most part, we think that this would come off also.”
During an interview last week, Mr. Pinder said that in 2002, when the authority was established, staff who transferred from the public service were to receive all benefits they were entitled to, but this did not happen. According to Mr. Pinder, the civil servants who transferred were represented by the BPSU, but the authority is only recognising the union as bargaining agent when it “suits their purpose.”
“We wrote to the Airport Authority after completing the salary anomalies exercise in October, 2002, to inform them of the persons who were to receive benefits, namely the fire rescue workers and the maintenance staff. However, to this date, the staff still awaits their payments, which led us to filing a trade dispute at the industrial tribunal,” Mr. Pinder said.
The BPSU president also said staff members hired at the Airport Authority who were not transferred public servants are not included amongst those expected to get a salary increase Tuesday. He said that in order to get these workers unionised, the BPSU first had to encourage them to join the union and they have now obtained the numbers needed to have the BPSU recognised.
Mr. Pinder said there was no response after informing the general manager of the Airport Authority, Idris Reid, that the required number of members needed to recognise the BPSU as the bargaining agent was met.
Meanwhile, the $1,200 salary increase due civil servants since July is part of the BPSU’s five-year contract signed in 1999. Prime Minister Perry Christie announced during the budget debate in May that the award was simply “not feasible” without raising taxation.
After several fiery meetings with unions led by Bahamas Union of Teachers president Kingsley Black, the prime minister was presented with a proposition asking the government to pay accumulated arrears in October, the remaining balance in December and have salary increases implemented in January. However, the government said that no payments could be made until Dec. 9. The $600 to be paid on Tuesday represents the $100 a month accumulated since July.
On Sunday, Mr. Pinder cautioned BPSU members not to waste the $600 they are expected to receive during the Christmas season.
“They must remember that December is a long month and once we get paid on the 19th, we don’t see anymore pay until the 28th or so of January. There are some persons who have outstanding bills that they should concentrate on, and not to spend this money having fun.”
The BPSU president also encouraged members to consider taking 10 per cent of their $600 and donate it to a church said that when they get their January raise, they should consider a contributory pension plan to strengthen their retirement package.
By Tamara McKenzie, The Nassau Guardian
