Caribbean News Now!

By Krystel Rolle
Guardian Staff Reporter

NASSAU, Bahamas -- The Bahamas Public Service Union (BPSU) is petitioning the government to lift the freeze it placed on public service promotions and increments, arguing that inflation is overwhelming the resources of public servants.

This comes nearly a year after Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham announced the freeze in the 2010/2011 budget in May 2010.

Ingraham said public service promotions would be frozen, except in special cases, and that public service employment would also be frozen, except in extenuating circumstances.

The move came during the middle of an economic crisis that led to massive job losses across the country and widespread budget cuts.

At the time Ingraham said the government was making such adjustments to avoid job losses in the public service.

John Pinder (Photo: Nassau Guardian)

But BPSU President John Pinder said now that the economy is on the rebound, the union expects the government to put an end to the freeze.

"We have agreed that increments have to be paid," Pinder told the Nassau Guardian on Wednesday.

"They have to lift the freeze on promotions. They are demoralizing too many people. A lot of people are at the max of their salary scale and the only thing that can help them is a promotion or the increments. That is according to our industrial agreement, once they perform above average in the form of a lump sum payment.

"Inflation is eating up our members’ salaries and we have to try our best -- and I know it’s hard economic times -- but we have to try our best to bring some level of relief to our members and the only way we can do it is by money," Pinder continued.

He said union executives had a meeting with Ingraham two weeks ago to discuss the freeze. Pinder added that Ingraham promised to get back to the union before the budget is presented at the end of next month.

"We are trying to commence though the formal negotiations on those things. We want to at least be able to talk to the financial aspects of it for the proposed industrial agreements so that they can make provisions in the budget to accommodate it. We have agreed that increments have to be paid,” he said.

Asked if he thinks the union has allowed the government enough time to recover from the economic downturn, Pinder said he believes the union is being fair.

"There are reports that the economy is rebounding; it’s shaping up pretty good,” he said, adding, “There are expectations that by the end of this year they should see some more signs of improved economic situations. We're hoping that the government will take that into consideration and do something to assist our members financially.”

Pinder said the union is working to ensure that public servants are paid what is due to them.

Republished with permission of the Nassau Guardian http://www.thenassauguardian.com

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