Nine unions representing civil servants around the country had a one-on-one meeting Prime Minister Perry Christie Monday evening to continue negotiations regarding pay increases.
The unions, led by Bahamas Union of Teachers president, Kingsley Black, presented the prime minister with a new proposition, the most recent of several made since Mr. Christie said the government could not accommodate pay increases until Dec. 31. The initial payday was July 1.
The new proposition is that the Government pay accumulated arrears in October with the balance in December, and for the salary increases be fully implemented by January 2004.
Following the three hour meeting, Mr. Black reported that nothing had changed, as both parties could not reach an agreement.
“We’re not backing down any further. The bottom line is the people we represent are not willing to give the government any more time based on the way they were treated in this dispute,” said Mr. Black.
He accused Cabinet ministers and senators of “launching an inappropriate attack” on public servants, who were simply saying: “You owe me and by contract you are due to pay me and we expect to be paid.
Instead, government leaders called civil servants unproductive and unworthy of pay increases, he said.
“All these bylining, unnecessary, silly things that were said about public servants have driven a wedge between the public servants and the government in this situation. Irrespective of the reality of the economic situation, which the leadership of these groups understand, the membership has determined that the way it has been treated, the government does not deserve any more than three months,” explained Mr. Black.
He said Mr. Christie reiterated that in order for civil servants to be paid, taxes would have to be raised, and if this happens, he would blame civil servants for the country’s heartache.
However, it is Mr. Black’s belief that the Government had already planned to raise taxes and then blame the move on civil servants.
While noting that salary increases may impact the current fiscal budget, Mr. Black said it would be the same regardless of when salary increases are implemented.
“Over the 12-month period the impact of implementing the salary increase on the budget will be the same. It would add to the deficit and would do the same if the salary increases were implemented in June or Oct. or whenever,” noted Mr. Black.
He also admitted that there were some unions acting as “silent partners” who did not share other unionists’ views, but he did not want to reveal any names.
Asked how unionists would respond if the government, again, does pay them in October. Mr. Black said “we’ll just have to see in October.”
“The government has three months to change their minds; we’re not going to change our mind.”
By Khashan Poitier, The Nassau Guardian
