According to the union’s chief negotiator, Kingsley Black, Prime Minister Christie made no headway when he met Monday night with public sector union leaders in an effort to resolve the pay increase dispute.
The Bahamas Union of Teachers president said government refused to compromise on an earlier date to pay civil servants what was owed them.
The pay increases were originally due at the end of this month. However, government said it could not pay before December, although the IMF had advised government to defer payment to next year.
Mr. Black predicted that widespread industrial action will take place in October if government does not compromise, especially in light of the “kind of spending” government has been doing, which he believes has left civil servants out in the cold and apparently not a government priority as their increases were not included in this year’s budget.
Source: The Tribune
