The Tribune

BAHAMAS Power and Light officials signed an industrial agreement with the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union yesterday.

This came after months of contention between the union and BPL executives over the stalled agreement and a number of other issues.

“We have an agreement that is good for the company and the agreement is good for the workers,” Minister of Works Desmond Bannister, who has responsibility for BPL, said at a press conference about the signing.

“Anything that’s in the best interest of the workers is what the government is interested in,” he said.

BEWU president Kyle Wilson said the deal will benefit workers.

“This has been almost a gift to the union in the fact that we have not lost any concessions and there are increases in salary scales, increases in wages and also lump sums of money,” Mr Wilson said.

Last week, The Tribune reported that BEWU had finally ratified an industrial agreement proposal from BPL after months of demonstrations.

At the time, Mr Wilson had expressed hope that the new agreement could be signed before the next general election, which is September 16.

The previous industrial agreement between the two parties had expired some four years ago and negotiations for a new agreement were soured by industrial action following what the union called disrespectful and insulting proposals.

In protest of the unfinished negotiations and citing disrespectful treatment by executive management, the BEWU’s members walked off the job on June 28 and again on August 19.