Members of the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) and the Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU) staged a protest on Bay Street Wednesday demanding clarity on promised salary increases.
The Prime Minister assured workers during a national address on Tuesday that salary adjustments would be made before Christmas.
Leader of the Opposition and the Free National Movement, the Hon. Michael Pintard expressed his support for the unions. While speaking with reporters he drew attention the the existing industrial agreements that have been breached by the government.
He said, “UB is but one example. And so again when he talks about fairness people know that its a joke. That he can’t be serious about fairness when you have the top tier of the public service have such a massive difference in salary, in living allowance and other benefits when compared to the average member of the public service. And then. of course, worse than that is the fact that the government continues to hire consultants at extremely high prices.”
Leader of the Coalition of Independents, Lincoln Bain took exception to the Prime Minister’s comments that he gave public servants a salary increase out of the goodness of his heart.
Bain said, “it’s our money. If I go to the bank to withdraw money and the teller says I only give you this out of the goodness of my heart, that is nonsense. It’s our money and politicians need to stop thinking that the money belongs to them. It belongs to people and you’re not giving us a favor when you give us what is ours. You work for us as a manager. You don’t own that money.”
One protester lamented that politicians were taking advantage of their plight without truly being on the side of workers.
The is the second protest staged by
