The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company yesterday denied allegations that the majority of its line staff were underpaid.

In a press statement yesterday, the company defended itself against a number of allegations put out by the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU) over industrial agreement negotiations.

The statement read: "It is and will remain BTC's policy not to seek to negotiate the Industrial Agreement in the public space. However, the company will do its best to ensure that any and all statements regarding BTC in any journal of record are factual and accurately reflect the position of the company."

Last week, union executives said that salary negotiations had reached an impasse despite attempts to negotiate in good faith.

Citing the initiatives to cut cost and increase efficiency that were undertaken by the company over the past year, BCPOU president Bernard Evans said members found it difficult to accept management's claim that it cannot afford a "reasonable salary increase".

However, the company has countered that pay increases for all staff will exceed ten per cent over the contract period despite "economic uncertainty."

The company confirmed that it has offered an increase of four per cent on base pay; however, it noted that the increase would be calculated on top of annual increments.

The statement read: "It is important to recognise that these increments are salary increases.

"When the four per cent increase is factored into the annual increments, the increase in base pay proposed for non-management members of staff is equivalent to an increase of between 9.6 per cent and 11.2 per cent over three and a half years."

Last week, Mr Evans alleged that a Price Waterhouse Coopers Report, commissioned by BTC, revealed that over 90 per cent of line staff are underpaid compared to similar companies within the region.

However, the company has maintained that this information is not "factually correct".

"The company has shared in detail a report from PWC that is very clear and explicit that the base compensation for BTC employees ranks the company in the top 25 per cent within the country," the BTC statement read.

"If we factor in full compensation, including benefits, BTC ranking would exceed the 25 per cent quartile in the market. The management intends to ensure that BTC's pay and compensation remain competitive. BTC's competitive compensation package is borne out every day by the interest we continue to generate for employment."

The company also denied claims that it has hired some 200 consultants. According to the statement, there are less than 50 consultants employed at the company.

While admitting that the pension plan structure has changed, the company maintained that the pension benefits of all existing employees and retirees will not be affected.

The statement read: "The current plan for existing employees is non-contributory. However, new employees coming into the business will pay into a different pension plan structure."

It added: "These arrangements are consistent with the shareholder agreement between CWC agreed at the sale."

Negotiations between Cable & Wireless and the BCPOU began in early November 2011. The previous contract expired September 30, 2010.