What’s Really Causing BPSU’s Industrial Agreement Delay?

2026-03-01 - 00:35

& Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Thousands of public servants still waiting on a new industrial agreement with the government could see movement as early as next Monday — despite a public back and forth between the government and the Bahamas Public Services Union. Union president Kimsley Ferguson told reporters outside the Office of the Prime Minister Tuesday they’ve waited long enough to hear back from the Davis administration about amendments to an outstanding agreement submitted last summer. This week, Labour Minister Pia Glover-Rolle said the union submitted the document as a PDF file and, when asked to convert it to a Word document, refused — potentially delaying the process. Ferguson rejected that explanation, saying the public service has the technical expertise to handle the format and insisting the union is still awaiting a formal counter-proposal. Meanwhile, Chief Labour Consultant Bernard Evans says he is not legally required to submit a written counter-proposal, arguing negotiations can resume at the table without one. Ferguson maintains he needs a written response to present to union members and suggested the delay may be politically motivated. Negotiations are expected to continue in the coming days.