The Tribune

By FAY SIMMONS

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation’s (BAIC) newly-signed industrial agreement with the union representing its line staff will not be made retroactive to cover the five-year negotiating period, officials said yesterday.

Leslie Dean, BAIC’s labour consultant, said the improved financial terms for members of the General Workers Union will take effect as soon as the agreement is implemented. “We could not go retroactively for back pay, but the benefits will be commensurate upon the implementation of this agreement,” he explained.

“They will be getting the monetary benefits as agreed by the Government at this time because, basically, as we all know, the economic transition we are just coming from, the challenges from the pandemic.... And so the different categories of workers will be paid a double increment or single increment, and that is what they will get. That is for 2022 through 2025.”

Mr Dean said the agreement’s terms include two fifteen-minute coffee breaks for workers daily; an extended sick leave period; a two-day extension on compassionate leave; leave for employees on Family Islands who may encounter transportation issues; paternity leave every three years; casual leave; study leave; and the formation of a health and safety committee.

Educational benefits for workers include the opportunity to use the facilities at the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) to enhance skills, and the chance to apply for scholarships or paid leave.

Mr Dean said: “BAIC takes very seriously the need for employees to - although they might come at a certain level - to provide opportunity to use facilities at the nearby BTVI to enhance their skills, which will in the long run be brought back into the workplace where they can enhance productivity within the corporation.

“We have to look out for the welfare of our employees. That is the thrust behind the conclusions in the industrial agreement. Management wants to provide a safe work environment for employees, and put in a framework where you have good interactions between supervisors, managers and employees, each knowing their respective responsibilities to each other.”

Mr Dean voiced optimism that the agreement will help increase productivity among workers, raise staff incomes and make future labour negotiations easier. He said “With increased productivity generating increased income, it will be up to the employees in the long run. When unions make a request for increases in wages, the management can consider it positively because we will have a very productive workforce which can be measured in output and income.”

Leroy Major, BAIC’s executive chairman, acknowledged that “we will be back to the drawing board in short order” as the industrial agreement signed yesterday is due to expire in June 2023. This will require fresh negotiations on a new labour deal.

Obie Ferguson KC, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), said he expects other outstanding industrial agreement talks to be concluded soon. He said: “All of the agreements that’s outstanding will be negotiated and we will move along. We have Bahamas Waste, which we should be signing in a couple of days. BTVI, we should be signing in short order, and very shortly we will be signing with the doctors.”

His reference to the doctors includes both the Bahamas Doctors Union, which represents the junior physicians in the public health sector, and the Consultant Physicians Staff Association (CPSA). The latter represents the more senior doctors.