The following statement outlines the position of the Government:
We wish to confirm our interest in pursuing these negotiations to a successful conclusion to the mutual benefit of both sides, while recognizing that there are special circumstances which pertain to the teaching profession. We are prepared to negotiate and agree on these matters.
We reiterate that the Government is interested in pursuing a five (5) year agreement in the interest of administrative efficiency and for uniformity and consistency in public sector industrial agreements.
We acknowledge the B.U.T.’s desire for confirmation that its bargaining unit comprises all of its members. We accept the present definition pursuant to the 1965 Recognition Agreement. Our side agrees with the B.U.T. (as is set out in B.U.T.’s proposal) that different rules must apply to administrators in the system than those who are not administrators. We also note the B.U.T.’s proposal that both administrative and non administrative members be dealt with in the same agreement, albeit in separate sections of the agreement. We agree with this approach.
We are prepared to engage in further discussion to conclude a collective bargaining agreement in accordance with the terms of the 1965 Recognition Agreement.
We ask as demonstration of good faith the B.U.T.’s withdrawal with immediate effect of its declared work to rule.
The proviso to clause 1 of the 1965 Agreement excludes from the terms of the Agreement:
- Matters governed by the Public Service Commission;
- Matters for which the Minister of Education or any other officer
in the Ministry of Education has responsibility under the Constitution,
the Education Act, or any other law;
- Matters involving appointments, transfers, discipline, allocation
of duties; or
- Matters involving the general superintendence, direction and control
of maintained schools by the Minister responsible for Education.
As is plainly stated in the 1965 Recognition Agreement, matters within the scope of the 1965 Agreement are “remuneration, tenure and conditions of service and other allied matters” which are not otherwise excluded by the proviso. Thus the matters listed above are excluded from the terms of the 1965 Recognition Agreement. It is worthy of note that hitherto this fact has always been accepted by the B.U.T. in its negotiations with Government.
Of course, the Government stands ready to conclude if the B.U.T. should
so wish to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement which is in conformity
with the existing Industrial Relations Act 1970 as amended. The present
Industrial Relations Act requires that a collective bargaining agreement
which can be lawfully registered under the Act must contain certain matters
within its terms.
Our position is however that whether we conclude a limited collective
bargaining agreement within the scope of the 1965 recognition agreement,
or a collective bargaining agreement as contemplated by the 1970 Industrial
Relations Act, this will take some time to conclude.
A more efficient and productive use of our negotiating time would be in dealing with the one issue which we clearly agree is within the scope of any agreement: that of salaries and allowances.
It is our proposal today therefore to start with the salary and allowances issue first with both sides agreeing today to payments in line with those paid to and accepted by other public servants. Then we can proceed to negotiate other issues within the scope of the 1965 recognition agreement.
While any union might, as a negotiating tactic, make demands that it knows cannot be met, the government must responsibly manage the economy and the Bahamian people’s money.
We have made to B.U.T. a salary proposal in line with the one that 16,000 public servants have accepted i.e. a $700 lump sum payment and a payment of $2,500 added to base salary over 5 years (including increments).
We cannot and will not consider a payment to 3,500 members of B.U.T. (also public servants) of $4,000 lump sum and $12,000 over 3 years, plus increments.
In summary then, our proposal for today’s meeting is:
- Signing off on Salaries and allowances in line with the BPSU Collective Bargaining Agreement, with the intention to make the first payment by Easter 2006
- Setting a timetable for further discussions on either a limited collective bargaining agreement within the scope of the 1965 recognition agreement or a full collective bargaining agreement which can be registered under the 1970 Industrial Relations Act.