At least 1,200 educators will receive a 15 percent salary hike over the next three years, education officials revealed yesterday.
The salary increases are a part of new industrial agreement signed by the Bahamas Educators Managers Union (BEMU) yesterday and the Bahamas Educators, Counselors and Allied Workers Union (BECAWU) on Friday. Each union has a bargaining unit of about 600.
While the agreements have not been released, Ministry of Public Service Labour Relations Unit Manager Cindira Bain told The Nassau Guardian that roughly $3,500 will be added to those salaries by the end of 2024.
“What we signed on Friday and what was signed today, their increments are $700 a year,” Bain said.
“So, in essence, this year or this coming month, they will get an extra $1,400 added to their base salary. Next year, they will get an additional $700. In the third year, they will get another $1,400 added to their base salary — five increments.
“This is outside of their regular increment that is earned on a yearly basis. So, for the three-year period, you are looking at a 15 percent salary increase.”
BEMU President Stephen McPhee said he has “never seen in such a short time such massive increases”.
He said monthly salaries will increase by $300 for some members.
“For those who are not at their ceiling, and still entitled to increments, will receive up to some $500 monthly,” McPhee said.
It was not immediately clear how much the salary increase will cost the government. The Department of Education allocated $1,772,000 in the 2022/2023 budget for salary adjustments, which was a roughly 75 percent increase from the $1,007,480 allocated the previous year.
In May, Prime Minister Philip Davis promised to increase salaries for teachers, which were subject to agreement by unions, and to pay a retention bonus to teachers.
Minister of Education Glenys Hanna-Martin said yesterday that BEMU and BECAWU are set to immediately benefit from this promise.
“Teachers play an invaluable role in national development,” she said.
“They have responsibility for the education, shaping and inspiration of each generation.
“I am gratified that this invaluable role is being purposefully recognized by increased salaries for teachers and administrators across the board.
“We recently completed a survey of teachers nationwide and intend to respond to the other concerns noted by teachers as affecting their morale.
“We go into conclave with administrators next week and I will meet in closed session with principals across the country in a few days.”
Negotiations between the government and the Bahamas Union of Teachers, which represents approximately 3,000 teachers across The Bahamas, is still ongoing.
When asked yesterday if there is any indication when members of the union will receive the prime minister’s promised salary increase, BUT President Belinda Wilson replied, “No word. Negotiations [are] ongoing.”
She said recently that the union and government negotiators are “closer than we have ever been” to concluding a new industrial agreement, which will include provisions for a salary hike.
