The Public Managers Union yesterday expressed frustration in what it reported were stalled negotiations for new industrial agreements for its members at Bahamasair, the College of The Bahamas and the National Insurance Board.
Leslie Munnings, second vice president of the union, said, "I'm not sure how much longer the union can continue to just provide [members] with updates for them to be satisfied with that. They are looking for something tangible from these entities."
Munnings added, "We're not unreasonable.  We understand the world economy.  We understand airline economics, but we also understand the cost of living."
Munnings, who focused his comments specifically on Bahamasair, said, "Every year the cost of living goes up and it affects the managers here, just like everywhere else.  We would like them to have a fair opportunity to have an increase in pay, but we need to be able to move forward for the sake of these managers and the airlines."
According to Munnings, 67 Bahamasair employees are union members.
He said negotiations with Bahamasair have been ongoing since 2009.
"For some reason in all...of the entities, the contract negotiations though they have been cordial, effectively have come almost to a standstill because of a lack of financial counterproposal from each of the entities," he said.
Munnings said that in the case of Bahamasair, its executives have indicated certain positions, but do not seem prepared to present any percentages that the members can truly consider.
"For a long period of time we have been seeking to come to terms with exactly what it is they are seeking to present for the members to consider," he said.
"But to date they have not come forward and so the members are very concerned and very disappointed."
However, Managing Director of Bahamasair Henry Woods said he submitted a proposal to the union in 2009.
He could not say if any figures were given, but said that talks have been ongoing with the managers union.
Woods said if the union has any concerns its leaders should talk to him.
In terms of negotiations however, he said, "The unions are the ones dragging their feet."
Munnings said, "We're not a very vocal union.  We seek to do everything through dialogue, but sometimes it does seem people turn a deaf ear, and so we must be careful that we don't allow the union itself to become marginalized.
"We are still awaiting information from Bahamasair [and] when they are going to have information to present to us...the ball is really in their court."

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