The Tribune

TEACHERS want a 12 per cent pay hike over the next three years - and to have the government pay one hundred per cent of their insurance premium.

The demands were outlined in a new agreement put forward by the Bahamas Union of Teachers, which has 4,000 members.

Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald accepted the draft proposal of the 2013 – 2016 proposed collective bargaining agreement, presented by the President of the BUT, Belinda Wilson, and other union officials.

Mrs Wilson said the union thought it fitting to present the draft agreement prior to the expiration of existing agreement to start the negotiation process early.

The teachers’ union president said that she hoped that the articles in the agreement will propel education forward.

Minister Fitzgerald thanked Mrs Wilson and her team for being proactive in their efforts which will cause the ministry to do the same, he said.

The minister said there has to be a partnership between the ministry and the union so that students can get the most out of education and teachers are properly and fairly treated and their working conditions are conducive to work.

He said: “The true beneficiaries of our actions will be the teachers and children.”

Mrs Wilson said she looked forward to learning who will represent the ministry in the negotiations.

Mr Fitzgerald said the Ministry of Labour under Shane Gibson will be the lead agency in all contract negotiations and therefore he would wait to hear when they are prepared to deal with the document.

He said this would ensure a standardised policy and benefits and eliminate any conditions regarding any benefits for all government agencies.