The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Public Service Union President John Pinder yesterday accused the government of "cherry picking" who they take care of in the public service.

Mr Pinder said he sent a letter to Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham on Tuesday outlining the union's demands, and if he receives no response by Thursday, the union will have to take "action".

"We are not going to stand by and let the government change on us without the Prime Minister putting in writing what he has verbally agreed to. We have been waiting for months for him to sign something, put something in writing and have it signed and registered by the Tribunal so it will be valid," he said.

"We are not going to wait until after the election. If the FNM doesn't win, we will have to start this process all over again with a whole new set of people.

"The new government does not have to honour the verbal contract the FNM made with us and then where does that leave the union?"

Mr Pinder said all he wants is for the government to do for all public servants what he does for one group.

"We heard through the press that the nurses got a $700 lump sum payment as well as $700 added to their salaries and health insurance. What about the police officers, the prison officers, the driving instructors and all of the other government agents? All we want is for it to be fair across the board. No cherry picking," he said.

"Even if the government doesn't commit to negotiating the entire contract just agree to the $700 payment, the health insurance and the salary increase and we can figure out the rest after the election.

"But we need to get something in writing. We need a new industrial agreement. This has been going on for far too long and the members are getting anxious."

Mr Pinder said if he does not hear from Mr Ingraham he will have no other choice but to call an emergency meeting with his members and go from there.

When asked if the union is making threats because of the upcoming elections Mr Pinder said "yes and no".

He said: "Yes, we are doing this now because we need this done before elections and before the government changes, and no we aren't doing it because we want attention.

"Isn't the government running around and fixing things and making promises because it's election season? Just how they use strategies, so does the trade union movement.

"We know if the Prime Minster dissolves parliament we will not get anything. That does not sit well with the union."

The union's last industrial agreement expired on June 30, 2010.