Prime Minister, the Hon. Philip Davis met with various union leaders on Thursday at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).

The meeting came after negotiations with the Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU) and the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) on salary review and increases for public servants stalled this week. On Wednesday members of both unions protested at the House of Assembly demanding payment.

Representatives of the Bahamas Educators, Counsellors and Allied Workers Union (BECAWU) and Bahamas Educators Managerial Union (BEMU) participated Thursday’s meeting at OPM.

BECAWU President, Sandra Major shared why her union did not participate in the industrial action held this week. She said, “we understand, of course, that the salary review is a gift. And in doing that we will continue our negotiations with the government this week.”

BEMU President, Stephen McPhee also spoke with reporters after meeting with the Prime Minister. He said, “I think the Prime Minister, as many of us, suspects as soon as the Prime Minister could deliver which may even be prior it will occur. But my members sent us here with a mandate and we have no challenge prior to coming to this meeting with the voice of our members that we, one, expect to be included, and two, the deadline that was set we expected that would not go beyond that deadline.”

According to McPhee the initial salary review process did not include BEMU but that changed during the meeting. “Prime Minister and his team, I must say, was very receptive. In some points was even apologetic and made it clear that there was no ill will or intend.”

Speaking on behalf of OPM was Director of Communications, Latrae Rahming. He told ZNS News the meeting with union leaders was positive one and that the objective is was to reaffirm the government’s open door policy with unions.