The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

THE GOVERNMENT has allocated more than $10 million towards salary increases for teachers and other public servants, according to State Minister for Finance Michael Halkitis.

Mr Halkitis said after months of negotiations with the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) the government signed an agreement on April 18.

Under the agreement teachers will receive two separate increment salary increases and major medical insurance.

According to Mr Halkitis, teachers received the first salary increase on July 1 and will receive the second before 2013.

“The agreement, “ he said, “calls for a lump sum payment equal to each employees increment covered under the agreement. This payment was deposited in employee accounts the first week of July. The agreement with the teachers also calls for each employee to receive in 2012/2013 an additional increment which means they will receive two increments.”

The teachers will also receive health insurance effective July 1. Provisions in the agreement call for 80 per cent of medical costs to be covered by the government.

Mr Halkitis said the government has also reached an agreement with the Bahamas Public Service Union, which calls for a lump sum payment to be paid to each employee on July 1. In total these increments will amount to just over $10 million.

“To be exact, it amounts to $10,857,600. Namely $8,991,200 for public servants, including teachers, $1,600,000 for those persons at the Public Hospitals Authority and $266,400 for the payment of $400 each to the 666 weekly staff in the public service,” he said.

Mr Halkitis thanked the leadership and the membership of the unions involved for “ the spirit in which the discussions were carried out” and said he looks forward to the continued partnership “as we navigate these challenging economic times.”