After much negotiations a new industrial agreement has been signed between the government and the Bahamas Public Service Union (BPSU). The deal is valued at approximately $40 million.

A signing ceremony was held at the Ministry of Finance on Monday. Minister of State with responsibility for the public service, the Hon. Pia Glover-Rolle was in attendance. She highlighted some of the benefits of the agreement for BPSU members, “service allowance was increased from $1200 to $1500 per year and a transport allowance was increased from $250 to $300 per month. There were other allowances and mileages. Another great caveat is the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Defence Force and the Bahamas Department of Corrections received an increase in pay from $18,000 per annum to $20,000 per annum.”

For his part, Bahamas Public Service Union President Kimsley Ferguson said, “there were persons who were qualified based on the standards that we do have in the industrial agreement for hazard allowance which were those security officers as well as persons at the meteorological office. Again we’re still awaiting a response in that regard. We were seeking either to get some insurance coverage or the hazard allowance for those individuals particularly those security officers in the schools.”

Speaking about Police, Defence Force and Corrections officers Ferguson stated, “based in the increase in the cost of living we find that the increase could have been looked at for those individuals in a special way. And so that communication or that item was forwarded to the negotiations team. I’m advised that consideration may be given to it we don’t have a definitive response in that regard at this time.

The agreement is retroactive to July 1st, 2022 and expires on June 30th, 2025.

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