Minister Rolle: “First Offers Are Rarely Accepted”

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – It’s back to the bargaining table for the teachers’ union and the government over proposed salary increases in a new industrial agreement.

An outright rejection of the first proposal by the teachers’ union over the weekend has now sent both sides back to the drawing board, as nearly 2,000 teachers await another round of pay increases.

The old agreement expired in June. Government presented the first union offer on Jan. 30. Within a matter of days, the union says its members voted overwhelmingly to reject it.

By the weekend, Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson made the rejection public. A day later, Labour Minister Pia Rolle responded in a statement, calling the union’s response normal.

Pia Rolle, Minister of Labour and Public Service
“That’s how negotiations work. First offers are rarely accepted.”

The process to negotiations could soon continue, as the union has sent a counterproposal.

Minister Rolle, in her response, made it clear the government does not intend to negotiate with Wilson and her union in the public domain, and “not in the headlines,” as she put it.

Government record with teachers

Also discussed was the government’s track record with teachers.

Since 2022, the government points to two annual increments, five increases and a first-time retention bonus, according to Rolle.

In addition, two more increments were given in December to all public servants.

Pia Rolle, Minister of Labour and Public Service
“We didn’t wait for negotiations. We moved on our own, outside of any contractual obligations, because we believe we need to pay our public servants what they are worth.”

Details of the rejected offer

In response to questions about what was offered, the minister shared details of the proposal.

Pia Rolle, Minister of Labour and Public Service
“The initial, final offer we made to the BUT is for five years. It includes five normal increases, four additional increments, a $1,500 lump sum payment, and another retention bonus. So added together, if we look at the time frame from 2021 to 2031, teachers will have received 19 increments. They will also have received two retention bonuses, plus a lump sum payment during that period. That’s what we’ve put on the table.”

It is now eight months since the old agreement expired, and with the union’s counteroffer now in hand, the next few weeks of negotiations will determine whether there is any possibility of an agreement in the foreseeable future.