The Tribune

BY NEIL HARTNELL

TRIBUNE Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

TWO umbrella trade union groups have united in their opposition to the Government’s new Oracle payroll system, with one wanting “written assurances” it will not lead to breaches of existing industrial agreements and the other seeking the Supreme Court’s intervention.

Belinda Wilson, head of the Bahamas National Alliance Trade Union Congress, yesterday said attorneys representing the Government revealed it has pushed Oracle’s launch back two months into the 2027 new year as both sides prepare for legal battle next month over the union challenge to the switch from monthly to bi-weekly (every fortnight) civil service salary payments.

The push back to a system that will impact payroll and human resources management for more than 23,000 civil servants and other public sector workers was reinforced by Obie Ferguson KC, president of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas Trade Union Congress (TUC), who warned the group and its affiliates are “particularly concerned” about elements of Oracle “that may conflict” with existing industrial agreement and General Orders.

The latter represents the rules and regulations that govern civil service conduct, and Mr Ferguson told Prime Minister Philip Davis KC in an October 29, 2026, letter that his umbrella body and the public sector unions are seeking “written assurances” that rights and benefits enshrined in existing industrial deals will be “respected” and not overridden by the Government.

Mr Ferguson’s letter, which has been obtained by Tribune Business, did not identify which parts of Oracle are causing concern and challenges for the unions, or which industrial agreements are in danger of being breached. He identified the Bahamas Doctors Union (BDU), the Bahamas Educators Managerial Union (BEMU), Bahamas Nurses Union (BNU) and Bahamas Customs, Immigration and Allied Workers Union (BICAWU) as TUC members.

The TUC president warned that “several common concerns have emerged which require urgent attention before full implementation proceeds”, including a lack of communication and consultation with public sector officials and their unions about how the Oracle system will function and impact them. Other issues cited in the letter to Mr Davis were inadequate training and preparation, plus challenges over access to equipment at several agencies.

“The Congress recognises the Government’s intention to modernise public sector operations, improve efficiency, strengthen accountability and provide employees with greater access to their employment information,” Mr Ferguson told the Prime Minister. “We acknowledge that a properly-implemented Oracle system has the potential to deliver significant benefits to both employees and the Government.”

However, the TUC chief warned that “several questions and concerns raised by affiliates remain unanswered, creating uncertainty about how the system will affect employees across various departments”. He urged the Government to ensure that unions and their members are “meaningfully involved in decisions that have the potential to affect their members’ working conditions and employment rights”.

And Mr Ferguson added: “The Congress is particularly concerned about aspects of Oracle that may conflict with existing industrial agreements, General Orders and established employment arrangements, including provisions governing working hours, attendance and sign-in requirements for certain occupational classifications.

“We wish to emphasise that the introduction of a new administrative system must not result in unilateral changes to employees’ negotiated rights and conditions of employment. Any proposed changes must be addressed through the appropriate consultation and negotiation process.” Mr Ferguson called on the Government to “provide written assurances that existing rights and entitlements” for public sector workers will be respected.

The TUC president said civil servants and public officials must be properly trained to use Oracle, and have the necessary support, while asserting that “the availability of computers, time clocks, kiosks and reliable connectivity remains a concern” for Family Island personnel and other departments and locations, including Grand Bahama and health clinics.

Besides public sector workers having the necessary resources to access and use Oracle properly, Mr Ferguson also called for “clarity” over planned payment schedules, how deductions and allowances will be administered, “and the potential impact of changes to established pay dates on employees’ existing financial commitments.

“Additionally, employees must be given the opportunity to verify the accuracy of their personal and employment information to prevent errors affecting salaries, leave balances, benefits and other entitlements,” Mr Ferguson told Mr Davis, while asking the Government to address all these concerns plus any “payroll discrepancies” and other challenges.

Recommending that Oracle be introduced in phases rather than “proceeding with a blanket roll-out” before the entire public sector is ready, Mr Ferguson said: “The Congress believes that this approach will minimise disruption, protect employees and promote greater confidence in the new system.

“The TUC wishes to reiterate that our affiliates are not opposed to modernisation or the introduction of technology to improve public sector efficiency. We support initiatives that can strengthen service delivery and improve the management of public resources.

“However, modernisation must be undertaken responsibly with meaningful consultation, adequate preparation and full respect for the rights and interests of employees.” Mr Ferguson urged the Government to engage with the TUC as “a matter of urgency” as the latter seeks to protect workers’ rights and “preserve industrial harmony”.

Mrs Wilson and the Bahamas National Alliance Trade Union Congress, meanwhile, which includes her Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) and the Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU), the latter of which represents the bulk of civil servants, have wasted no time in challenging Oracle’s implementation via the courts.

In a voice note to union members yesterday, urging them to ignore government instructions to use Oracle and switch to bi-weekly pay, Mrs Wilson said: “The Bahamas National Alliance Trade Union Congress, on behalf of the BUT, BPSU and other public service officials, with our lawyers petitioned the Supreme Court seeking an injunction to stop the Government from changing monthly salary payments to bi-weekly payments effective November 2026.

“As you are aware, we have been trying to get details about this process since December 2023. We are still awaiting answers. During the proceedings today, the Government has now stated that the bi-weekly will not take effect in November 2026 but instead January 2027. The matter was adjourned for a substantive hearing, which is set for next month, December 2026.”

That two-month push back eliminates the need for an injunction. However, Mrs Wilson added: “In light of this, and based on the difficulties members are still experiencing with the Oracle platform and lack of details on the process, I am reiterating and repeating the BPSU position on the Oracle remains the same.

“Continue to ignore all memos and circulars sent out from the Government about logging on to Oracle, and about switching to bi-weekly salary payments until further instruction from your union or your association. We will keep you updated about the outcome of the Supreme Court matter set for next month, December 2026.”

Michael Halkitis, minister of finance, earlier this week defended  the Government's Oracle roll-out, arguing that the replacement of an outdated payment system is necessary to address long-standing delays in public servants' human resource matters, including pension and gratuity payments.

He said the transition had been underway for around two years, involving meetings, training and consultations, as the Government works to modernise a system he described as being “beyond its last legs”.

“We need to upgrade our system. The current system is beyond its last legs. We also constantly have complaints from public servants about how long it takes for their human resources matters,” said Mr Halkitis.

He added that the initial roll-out covered the Ministry of Tourism, the University of The Bahamas and the Public Hospitals Authority, adding that no complaints about payment difficulties at those agencies had been brought to his attention.

“I don't know of any complaints about payment,” Mr Halkitis said. He acknowledged there had been expressions of concern about a lack of consultation, but maintained that the Government had made efforts to engage affected workers.

“We think that we have consulted. We've had numerous meetings. We've had letters written to us. We've answered the questions in the letters,” he said.

Mr Halkitis said complaints about the time it takes to resolve employment-related matters arise regularly, including delays in workers receiving their gratuities and pensions after retirement.

He attributed many of those difficulties to deficiencies in the existing management system, arguing that the new platform is intended to improve the processing of those matters.

“Every year it comes up, how long things take; how long it takes, for example, for people to get their gratuity and their pension once they've retired, and largely because of a deficient management system,” Mr Halkitis said. “I just encourage all to just give it a chance to work.”