The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

EXECUTIVES of the Water and Sewerage Corporation on Friday agreed to a new five-year industrial agreement with members of the Bahamas Utilities Service and Allied Workers Union (BUSAWU).

WSC chairman Bishop Lester M Cox contended that the contract signing brought an end to an arduous two-year process

"It is all about reconciliation," said Mr Cox. "(It's) about bringing some type of unity between directors and employees because we all have to work together at the end of the day."

Enshrined in the contract are allowances for members exposed to adverse conditions, the establishment of minor breaches to cut applications of major breaches, and a statute of limitation on minor breaches.

Additionally, the contract provided an adjusted scope to the corporation's salary scale. It now sits on par with industry standards. Merit pay and performance review systems were negotiated and approved by the two sides.

The new contract allows for a Christmas bonus to employees of $700 plus four days pay for 2016 and 2017 respectively.

There are also provisions for two lump sum payments to be made to employees, a $2,400 payment to coincide with Friday's signing and an unspecified increment payment in March, 2017.

The contract also mentions a review of salary scales, scheduled for January, an automatic increment disbursement in July, 2016, and a pro-rata increment - all to change from the anniversary of the employee's start date - to be paid out in January, 2017.

The deal signed by the WSC and the BUSAWU affects roughly 350 of the corporation's 437 employees.

According to Mr Cox the agreement signals the dawn of a new day at the corporation, adding that employees now have the incentive to perform and work towards WSC's "overarching goal of good service".

Mr Cox explained that in the wake of the financial settlement between the two sides, he believed it put employees in a "comfortable and secure enough position" to approach their respective tasks with the "expected passion".

He added: "What we are trying to do at WSC is simple: give the best possible service as possible to our customers. The more comfortable and happy our employees are, the better they will perform and work towards that goal.

WSC and representatives of the BUSAWU have been locked in contentious negations for some time, with both sides maintaining that their stances and needs superseded the other's.

In May, BUSAWU members demanded the resignation of WSC General Manager Glen Laville amidst slowed negotiations. At the time, BUSAWU President Dwayne Woods said his members were prepared to do whatever it took to receive what was due to them.

However, on Friday Mr Woods noted that while the new agreement didn't address all of his union's concerns, it did present terms he said members can "definitely" live with.

Lead government labour consultant Keith Archer also expressed his approval of the deal, calling it one of the better industrial agreements he has seen in recent times.

"One of the main things about my involvement in these negotiations is to make sure that the negotiations and the benefits don't sway too far outside of what the general labour agreements in the country permit."