While prior to its September 2021 general election victory, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) pledged to address longstanding issues with a number of unions, Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU) President Kimsley Ferguson said yesterday that little progress has been made in that regard.

“… Since the new day administration has taken office, the Bahamas Public Services Union has not gotten a resolution on one of the issues that have been presented,” Ferguson told reporters.

“The union is very concerned that nine months almost in and the government that made an agreement with trade unions, to address the outstanding concerns who were aware of what the concerns were prior to taking office, almost nine months in, we cannot seem to get a resolve on anything.

“We are concerned as to whether or not this administration is being the honorable persons that they said that they were prior to coming to office.”

Just weeks before the election, the PLP signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Trade Union Congress (TCU) and National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas (NCTU) pledging to address key labor issues if elected to government.

Under the MOU, the parties agreed that the PLP would “be supported by the labor movement to become the next government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas”.

The parties have also agreed to “work with the PLP in government to amend the law and regulations where necessary and possible” to implement National Health Insurance; work toward the enactment of a livable wage; redefine wages to include all forms of income including tips and gratuities; ensure that foreign employers are unable to walk away from their financial obligations to workers in the case of the demise of their companies or entities; allow for at least 16 hours of rest between shifts for each employee; strengthen the role of conciliators and enable the rulings of the Industrial Tribunal to be enforced without delay.

Under the MOU, the PLP also agreed to supply each umbrella union with a parcel of land for the building of national headquarters, among other pledges.

Ferguson said yesterday that the union is concerned that allocations will not be made in the upcoming budget to fulfill its promises to workers.

“We are of the view that the government of The Bahamas is stalling,” he said.

“The budget contribution is fast approaching, and we are concerned that allocations have not already been made for whatever is going to be agreed between the union and the government.

“And so, we want to encourage the government to let’s dialogue in good faith. The union has been reasonable. We’ve given the new day administration an opportunity to respond and to settle in office to find out exactly what the economic position of the country is.

“And so, we’re just waiting, but I would like to say to public servants everywhere, please, we need to collect ourselves and we need to cause the government of The Bahamas to understand that the workers of this country do have a voice and that good industrial relations is not just a unilateral something, but it’s a partnership.”

Ferguson made the comments as he addressed ongoing concerns of finance and accounting officers over promotions and allowances.

He said the union planned to hold a meeting last night to decide the way forward as it related to that specific issue.

“All these concerns will be discussed,” he said.

“A determination will be made as to what we’re going to do moving forward.

“If it is necessary for the members to squeak, some people say the squeaky wheel gets the oil, then that determination will be made. And we will do what it is that is necessary in order for the issues that we have presented to get the responses that we’re looking for.”

Ferguson added, “The last response that we got in reference to the finance and accounting officers since the press conference, the minister of state, [Pia Glover-Rolle] indicated that these individuals are no more important than any other public servants,” Ferguson said.

“She is indeed correct, but the minister of state should also be mindful that the issues concerning other public servants were not as long-standing as the issues relative to the finance and accounting officers and the court reporter situation, who have been in abeyance, to some extent, for about 15 to 20 years.

“And so, we are of the view that these particular two long-standing concerns should be given some immediate potential attention moving forward.”

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