The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

THE government started making payments to Ministry of Works employees this week for outstanding hazardous pay they claimed has been owed to them from 2005, according to Bahamas Public Service Union President John Pinder.

Speaking to The Tribune, Mr Pinder said it was his “understanding” that some of the staff have been paid and the government has made arrangements to pay the others.

Last Friday, nearly 200 Ministry of Works employees blocked the entrance to the ministry’s JFK Drive compound to protest about nine years of not receiving hazardous pay.

While confirming that some payments were made, Mr Pinder said they are still not satisfied. He said from what he understands those who received money were only paid for one year.

“I was told that some of them got back pay for one year and not all of the outstanding money has been settled,” Mr Pinder said. “We appreciate the government for making some attempt but many others are still waiting and the amount was not reasonable. I do not have all of the information, but from what I understand, the workers are still not pleased. But they are giving the government a little more time to make good on their promises.”

Last week, Steven Douglas, vice-president of the BPSU and welding superintendent at the Ministry of Works, claims the government “cherry picked” who they wanted to receive hazardous payments, which he said amounted to nearly $16,000 for some employees. 

“So far we have the electricians, the plumbers and the air condition guys who have received hazardous pay, when all of us deserve it,” he said. “There are hundreds of us that haven’t received anything. You have the welders, the body work guys, the painters and everyone else that deals with toxic fumes. We are no longer going to sit back and allow the government to pick who they want to pay and expect that to silence the rest of us.”

According to Mr Douglas, a contract was signed in 2005 that outlines that each worker should be paid a minimum of $1.50 hazardous pay per hour while on the job. However, he added that nine years later, most of them have not received a penny. 

Last week, Mr Douglas said the workers would block the entrance to the ministry every day until their matter is resolved. At the time of the protest, Works Minister Philip Brave Davis assured the workers that they would receive their hazardous pay this week.