The two sides returned to the negotiating table last Thursday in an effort to work out a deal which would be mutually satisfactory, however, BUT officials said after the meeting that the discussions were not successful, resulting in an “impasse”.
“The government has presented three counter-proposals since February 21, 2006,” the union said in a statement.
“Their latest proposal – presented on Tuesday April 11, 2006 – consisted of suggested salaries, allowances and increments. These are the same proposals that have been rejected several times by our membership. We wish to advise that these allowances, increments and other benefits that the government has highlighted are benefits that we already have.”
In a statement of his own, however, Public Service Minister Fred Mitchell on Monday attributed the stalled talks to attempts by the BUT to add to the number of issues which are negotiated as part of the collective bargaining agreement.
According to Mr. Mitchell, the discussions have not progressed because the union has insisted that management personnel, non-teachers, persons represented by other unions and non-existent posts be included in the bargaining unit.
He said questions regarding the 1965 recognition agreement between government and the BUT are also partly to blame for the impasse.
“In the spirit of good faith negotiations the government has compromised on all of these issues,” the statement said.
“The government has also, on a parallel track, established a joint government / BUT task force to address all outstanding issues with respect to the salary and allowances for teachers.”
According to the Minister, the work of the task force and the government’s continued cooperation with the BUT are not dependent on the outcome of the ongoing negotiations.
He also stressed that conclusion of an industrial agreement, the first between government and the BUT, is a matter of importance to government and its fiscal engineers.
“The government side has explained that resolving the issues of salaries before the end of the fiscal year is critical,” said Mr. Mitchell.
“The lack of movement on the negotiating table has made this critical because if it is not resolved before the end of the fiscal year, it would certainly lead to an increase in the deficit for the next fiscal year as funds allocated in this year’s budget would have to be approved in addition to the payments for the next year.”
The minister added that negotiations for an industrial agreement are not just a budget issue, but an issue of “prudent fiscal management with wide domestic and international implications.”
In addition to costing government more than $56 million for the 3,500 members of the BUT, the union’s proposal would also set an expensive precedent for future negotiations, Mr. Mitchell said.
“The remaining 17,000 members of the public service will receive a minimum $42 million in planned increases over five years. If the government would grant the BUT the increase being requested the government (would) without a doubt, for reasons of equity, be forced to grant similar increases to other public servants.”
According to the Public Service Minister, such increases would cost government more than $340 million over five years or more than $68 million a year.
The BUT, meanwhile, in addition to rejecting the government’s most recent proposal last Thursday also reaffirmed that it is focused on securing a range of work-related improvements.
“Teachers are most concerned about the conditions under which we work and we do not intend to take any decision that does not first address the matters of health, safety and discipline,” BUT officials said.
The union leaders also went on, however, to point out that they are prepared to negotiate in good faith and “try to work with the government” to develop the nation’s youth.
Just weeks earlier, union executives instructed public school teachers to ‘work to rule’ following the rejection of an earlier proposal from government.
That industrial action extended to public schools outside of New Providence and also resulted in disruption to extra-curricular activities, including all sports activities in the government school system.
In its latest offer to the BUT, presented last week, government proposed salary increases that are consistent with those given to the Bahamas Public Services Union, inclusive of a $700 lump sum payment and a $2,500 increase to the base salary of each teacher over a five-year period.
Government indicated that its proposal also included allowances which it said recognised the integral role of teachers in the educational system, and were intended to provide compensation for the special needs and duties of teachers including housing, transport, hardship provisions, and coaching and extra-curricular responsibilities.
The BUT is continuing to demand a $4,000 lump-sum payment for each teacher and is also pushing for each teacher to receive a $12,000 pay hike.
That increase would be payable with reference to the period January 2006 to June 2008.
The two sides were set to resume negotiations today.
By: Darrin Culmer, The Bahama Journal
