National

Labour Minister Defends Salary Rollout Amid Union Pushback

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Minister Pia Glover-Rolle defends the government’s civil servant salary increases, insisting unions were consulted despite pushback from the BPSU over a lack of involvement.

Published

1 year ago

July 20, 2025

Delvardo Emmanuel

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Labour and Public Service Minister Pia Glover-Rolle is pushing back against criticism surrounding the recent salary increases for civil servants, stating that consultations did take place and accusing some of misrepresenting the facts.

Her response comes after Prime Minister Philip Davis announced a $112 million boost to the government’s wage bill in the new fiscal budget, a move expected to bring much-needed relief to thousands of public workers.

But Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU) President Kimsley Ferguson says the union was not properly involved in the decision-making process. Calling the lack of early consultation “ludicrous,” Ferguson told The Tribune it’s difficult to advocate for members without having a seat at the table from the start.

Minister Glover-Rolle refutes that claim, pointing to a meeting on May 22nd between the BPSU president, his legal team, and top officials from the Ministry of Public Service and the Ministry of Finance.

PIA GLOVER-ROLLE – MINISTER OF LABOUR AND PUBLIC SERVICE:
“I don’t know where the confusion would’ve come from. There was a meeting to apprise the unions, where questions were answered and the plan rolled out. Mr. Ferguson knows he can always reach out to the ministry or the financial secretary.”

A statement released Tuesday further clarified that the salary adjustments apply strictly to core public servants, not quasi-government agencies or state-owned enterprises.

GLOVER-ROLLE:
“There seems to be confusion between public servants and quasi-government employees. While some public servants are placed in those agencies, they are anomalies and will be addressed accordingly.”

Glover-Rolle maintains that while consultation with unions is ongoing, salary decisions remain under government control.

“We consult and communicate with the unions, but co-management is not part of the process. It’s about keeping open dialogue, informing them of decisions, and receiving their feedback, which is exactly what we’ve done and continue to do.”