We Don’t Bow or Bend to No Man, Politician, or Government

Advertisement

NASSAU , BAHAMAS – As reporters pressed Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson about the stalled negotiations on the union’s industrial agreement, the conversation took an unexpected turn.

I asked Wilson about criticism over the lack of progress, particularly since another education union signed its agreement months ago.

That’s when Wilson made this shocking claim.

Belinda Wilson – President, Bahamas Union of Teachers

“They are indebted to the government because the government allegedly gave them registration against the law. I’m not indebted to any government, any politician, any minister of labour. We have that matter that’s a live matter in the Supreme Court, so they have to bow, and the Bahamas Union of Teachers is 79 years old. We all bow to no man.”

Now, while Wilson did not name the union, we know that the Bahamas Educators, Counsellors and Allied Workers Union, or BECAWU, secured a five-year agreement with the government.

But BECAWU’s industrial relations history has not been without controversy.

Back in May, the Court of Appeal refused an application by BECAWU to extend the time to appeal a Supreme Court decision in a union-recognition dispute with the BUT.

The appellate court ruled that the proposed appeal had no realistic prospect of success and ordered BECAWU to pay a total of fifteen thousand dollars in court costs.

Following Wilson’s comments to the media, I spoke with BECAWU President Keysha Laroda.

Laroda strongly disputed Wilson’s claim, saying what the BUT president told reporters was false.

Keysha Laroda – President, BECAWU

“There’s a process where you have to have your constitution, you have to create your bylaws, and then all of this has to be registered with the Registrar of Trade Unions. We did all of that, so we are legal.”

Our News has since obtained BECAWU’s certificate of registration issued by the Bahamas Department of Labour, which dates back to October 8th, 2020.

When it comes to the B.U.T.’s negotiations, they’re asking for a twenty percent salary increase over three years.

Wilson says they’re done speaking with lead negotiator Bernard Evans.

Belinda Wilson – President, Bahamas Union of Teachers

“The negotiating team’s time is really expired, and they need to go to their bosses and bring the financial persons to the table now, because all of the non-financial articles we’ve agreed on. So it’s now time for the Minister of Finance and his team to get involved with the negotiations.”

But Laroda is singing a different tune, saying she felt their negotiation process was fair.

Keysha Laroda – President, BECAWU

“The new teachers are coming in making $31,500. That will be their starting salary, and we got more allowances in the geographical allowance, the multigrade allowance and all of that.”