Government Workers Agree To 4.6% Deduction
All six Unions and their memberships have agreed to a 4.6% deduction in their overall package, Premier Craig Cannonier said this afternoon [July 25].
All Public Officers will receive one unpaid and un-worked day per month for two years [an estimated savings of $21 million], there will be a pay freeze until 2015 and Public Officers who are eligible to retire will qualify for six months’ pay as an incentive to seek early retirement.
This Agreement was reached after discussions with the BTUC on behalf of representatives of the six trade Unions: Bermuda Industrial Union, Bermuda Police Association, Bermuda Public Services Union, Bermuda Union of Teachers, Fire Services Association and the Prison Officers Association,
The Premier said, “This government will consistently look for ways to manage the public purse in a fiscally responsible manner and will continue to move the country in the right direction.
“From a Government perspective, we went into the negotiations with the intention of not making redundancies or layoffs. I am encouraged that jobs have not been cut and that no position has been made redundant.”
Terms of the MOU:
Early Retirement Incentive Plan
Public Officers who are 60 – 64 years of age or who are eligible to retire under the Pensions Act 1970 or the Public Service Superannuation Act 1981 may apply to their Department Head for early retirement.
Public Officers who are eligible to retire under either of the above Acts will qualify for the payment of six months’ pay as an incentive to seek early retirement. Eligible Public Officers must apply no later than Monday, 16th September 2013 with a separation date of no later than Monday, 30th September 2013.
It was agreed that in order for this proposal to provide any level of long-term savings, the post vacated must not be filled for a period of two years, and that on the approval of the Secretary to the Cabinet/Head of the Civil Service all funds associated with the position could be frozen for a period of two years.
The estimated cost savings based on 50 employees seeking early retirement at an average salary of $70,000 could be 1 year plan = $3.5 – 5 million – Second year $7 -10 million.
One unpaid and un-worked days off per month
All Public Officers will receive one unpaid and un-worked day per month for a period of two years. Any overtime hours worked to cover the unpaid and un-worked day will be paid at straight time.
All relief or weekly paid Public Officers who have been employed continuously for three months (those in posts represented by the BIU) and six months (for all other posts represented by other Unions or Associations) will be subject to the unpaid and un-worked days off for the period that they continue to be employed. HODs and Supervisors will be required to manage the leave portion of this process.
Estimated Savings: 1st year = $21 million; 2nd year = $42 million.
Four Year Pay freeze from 2011 until 2015
Agreement was reached on a salary pay freeze for all Public Officers for the period 2011 until 31st March 2015. This Agreement will vary between each Union and Association, understanding that some have previously been awarded, through the Arbitration process, increases during the above-mentioned period of time.
No real savings can be estimated with this agreed proposal. However it is considered reasonable to expect that the cost of living will continue to increase. The agreement to freeze the salaries for the next two years ensures that even if the CPI rises, Public Officers’ salaries will remain frozen.
Formulation of the Tripartite Economic Committee
Agreement was reached for the formulation of a Tripartite Economic Committee. It was agreed that best efforts would be made to ensure that the Tripartite Economic Committee which should consist of representatives of the Government, the Employers Council, the Chamber of Commerce and the BTUC, would be appointed and would hold its first meeting no later than the first week of September 2013.
Correspondence to private sector
In light of the agreed concessions which will result in a reduction in the pay packet of all Public Officers, the Employer agreed to correspond with private sector organizations on the Island to inform them of the concessions made by the BTUC on behalf of Public Officers, and to request their cooperation going forward.
Non Compliance
It was agreed that if either party to the MOU did not adhere to the terms and conditions of the MOU, the aggrieved party would request a meeting of the negotiating team to discuss the matter in the first instance.
It was also agreed that the MOU did not replace or amend any existing Collective Bargaining Agreements or conditions of work not covered in the MOU.
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Sorry brother chris, this deal stinks to high heaven.
Well maybe, but its clearly necessary. The PLP over consumption is hurting us and we need to tighten the belt.
Frankly I’m disappointed the OBA haven’t cut the bloated civil service. They are lucky they still have jobs.
Why don’t u be quiet…se work very hard for a pay check less than $900.00 now less…while u in the private sector especially exempt companys get well over $6000 a week plus leaving and vacation expenses….Bermuda’s rich will continue to lie to you about the economy. Tell them to take a cut.
You can’t make the private sector make cuts, its none of your business what they do, that’s the whole point. They are private, and they pay each other what they like.
The public sector on the other hand is everyone’s business, because we all pay for it. So Words of Wisdom, YOU made your choices here, you went into the public sector, and I have an opinion on that sector. It is bloated and over-staffed.
Oh sweetie – I work in an Exempt company and I can assure you I do not make $6000 a week… LMAO! Idiot. Speak only of what you know.
The point is, IB workers tend to earn a higher wage, as well as additional benefits that government workers can never earn. Thats the point, so there is no need to call anyone an idiot, except if you yourself lack information.
You mean benefits like this – I work in the private sector and I get 5 (that’s right 5) sick days a year and 5 (that’s right 5) vacation days a year and the same social insurance as public workers.
You mean you don’t get 70 (yes that’s right 70) sick days a year and 30 (that’s right 30) vacation days?
How I wish!
They pay your wages dum dum! Do you think they just walk into those jobs and don’t have to work hard themselves or be exceptional to do so. Just remember that the private sector pays for the public sector, 70% of government revenues goes to paying the civil service. IB pays the way, but typical that you would want to bite the hand that feeds you, you don’t even know how you’re being fed.
That is why the OBA should be seeking alternative ways to gain revuene in Bermuda. The total reliance upon IB is not the way to go in the future, as the worldwide economy has changed. So Dumm Dum is only for persons whom believe we must continue on this same pathway which is dying. OBA lack ideas, PLAN and Solutions for the future of Bermuda. Shared sacrifice, by whom..the poor workers only, not the OBA and those of privilege.
Actually we haven’t had raises in four years and those that did got less then the cost of living……….
LOL welcome to the clinch
You are an ignorant fool!
Young man the whole is lucky !!
A good place to start would be the Civil Service Executive. Can somebody explain why Marc Telemaque and other make over 200k a year?
Secretary To The Cabinet – Donald Scott – $204,774.82
Assistant Cabinet Secretary – Rosemary Tyrrell – $179,572.88
Assistant Cabinet Secretary – Judith Hall-Bean – $187,606.18
Assistant Cabinet Secretary – Majiedah Azhar – $179,572.88
Assistant Cabinet Secretary – Florence O’Brien – $179,572.88
Financial Secretary – Anthony Manders – $204,774.82
National Security Secretary – Marc Telemaque – $204,774.82
Permanent Secretary – Warren Jones – $179,572.88
Permanent Secretary – Kevin Monkman – $179,572.88
Permanent Secretary – Randolph Rochester – $179,572.88
Permanent Secretary – Francis Richardson – $179,572.88
Permanent Secretary – Derrick Binns – $179,572.88
Permanent Secretary – Wayne Carey – $179,572.88
Permanent Secretary – Kathy Lightbourne-Simmons – $179,572.88
Permanent Secretary – Cherie-Lynn Whitter – $179,572.88
Permanent Secretary – Ross Webber – $179,572.88
Permanent Secretary – William Francis – $179,572.88
17 SECRETARIES
COST TO THE TAXPAYER $ 2,956,805.20
So you’re saying the BPSU should agree to a bigger salary cut?
And that is where the cuts should begin first, not with the workers at the lower end of the margin, whom will feel it the most. Their wages are not enough to make it from week to week. The OBA Ministers wages as well as the number of consultants should also be cut. The shared sacrifice is coming only from the average worker, not those whom make over 80 or higher a month.
Those workers whom wages fall below the poverty line, should not have ever been subjected to a pay cut. That number is fairly high within government. As the number in the higher wage bracket is smaller.
The PS make the highest wages in govt. So the government OBA has taken more from the poorer worker, rather than targeted those making above 80 per month.
The government has also failed to take part in the this “SHARED SACRIFICE”…only the poor worker has done this… look at the pay-checks of the government Ministers, the number of staff the Premier has, the number of trips taken by the OBA, the high number of monies spent on things that have nothing to do with building the economy. Hey OBA is even driving the GP cars now. How hypocritical of them.
Shared Sacrifice for whom and by whom is the key question many need to ask.
It’s about time that Government Employees feel some of the strain that the private sector has been feeling for the last few years. My husband took a 10% pay cut last year and there is no sight of it coming back for a while, I got a promotion with no pay raise.
The government employees need to be thankful at this point that they still have jobs and aren’t being made redundant.
Wow really I’m sure he makes much more than the average gov’t worker….I’m sure his job does’t take any deduction out his pay, and I’m sure you still take trips out of this island….
If it wasn’t for the Government workers and Unionized workers the private sector would be like third world employers who take advantage of their low paying employees with no benefits. Our for fathers went through much hardship , tribulation and sacrifice so that over the years generations of hard working Bermudians and non Bermudians benefited and still benefit , and have one of the best collective bargaining agreements in the Western Atmosphere and in the Carribean . So all you haters foreign and locals just remember your wage, holidays , sick days, maternity and what ever benefit you ENJOY was not given to you because someone thought you deserved it, you have it because people before you sacrificed that you and your children and their children can live in a beautiful and expensive Island. A MESSAGE TO YOU ANTI -UNION and Colonialist thinkers if our for fathers were treated right and fair you wouldn’t have a problem today of your bias mentality but since your for fathers benefited and you are still benefiting from the years of legal theft of servitude and injustice well this is what you have today. So enjoy this beautiful Island and deal with the problems we have.
If it wasn’t for the 3,000 unnecessary government workers maybe we wouldn’t be $2bn in debt.
Do they really still need their 6 weeks vacation and 14 weeks sick leave by the way? They get tired if they don’t get 20 weeks off a year do they?
It’s 19 days vacation and 8 days uncertified sick leave. Long-term sick leave is 5 weeks. You have no idea what you are talking about, you just make stuff up and that makes you a dirty liar.
It’s 14 weeks sick leave. Look at the BPSU and BIU agreements. 30+ days vacation and 14 weeks sick leave.
Having recently left the civil service for my current job, I can inform you that it is only 30+ days vacation if you have been working there for over 25 years.
up to 5 years 19 days
5-10 years 21 days
10-15 years 24
15-20 years 27
20-25 years 29
25+ years 33
As for sick:
8 days uncertified sick. Any others have to be verified by a doctor. I never needed all 8.
But you certainly wouldn’t be able to just call in sick for 14 weeks of sick leave. It is a nice thing to have if you get cancer or some other long-term disease that keeps you out. I would rather be at work than get something that makes me sick for weeks or months.
On the other hand civil service don’t get bonuses, if you work hard you get more work given to you for the same pay, and only have the chance to move up when a spot above you becomes available when someone retires or resigns (neither are very often, especially now)
So you admit, you walk through the door and on your first day you qualify for 19 days vacation. And over time, it gets to 33 days. As you said yourself, no one leaves. There are a lot of people who have been there for decades.
In addition, you get 14 weeks sick leave a year. You have to get a doctor’s note? Big deal, so do I, for my maximum of 10 days sickleave a year (yes, 10 days, not 70 days). Getting a doctor’s note is easy, and worth the effort for another 14 weeks off.
Turns out I’m right. 33 days and 14 weeks. So who is the dirty liar, Darkside?
How has the government debt impacted you aside from the 4.6% wage reduction and that’s if you work for government?
Government workers have been taking a hit for the past 3 yrs. They have not had an increase in wages, it was frozen and negotiated under the former government. Under that agreement other things were also put into place as part of the agreement. So the myth that government workers did not take a hit is an out right LIE by the OBAubp fans and MPs. The reality is many government workers do not make much to begin with, and many are 1 pay-check away from having nothing. Many live pay-check to pay-check. SO GO GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT FOR A CHANGE….. IF they do not have a job who will pay for them any way? GOVERNMENT…so it is a not a savings after all.
Many in government do not make a high wage, it is only the smaller percentage of workers in high management post that really make the money. So look at the numbers and than talk.
Government workers have always felt the strain. Many do not make a wage that meets the poverty line in Bermuda. Stop listening to the rhetoric of the OBA, and become more intellectually alert. Read behind the lines and stop repeating the OBA talking points. The reality is many government workers do not make much and many live pay-check to pay-check, and many are 1 pay-check away from having nothing. So get real..
No strike. No march. They would have done both with the PLP.
The unions had no choice as they have so little support and NOT ONE business has opened under them in 3 years. They use their surpluses to attend conferences. Where is their business plan to benefit their members from their surpluses.
Amen !!!!
does the premier need all those speech writers
I really do hate this new govt !!!!!
You make that very clear in every one of your comments. Guys wanna sit here and complain about a pay cut in these times, government pays some of the best wages around and when times were decent I was making less in skilled trades and still surviving. I used to climb to heights over 200ft for my measly hourly wage and the only time I ever complained was when the company went behind my back and I quit. You do realize the government has another option right? One that would suck for the whole of this island. Instead of constantly complaining why don’t we all sit back and shut the f@ck up, enjoy cup match and give the new administration a chance to change things, it doesn’t happen over night, and if in 4-5 years they haven’t done that, then there’s a simple solution. Before you label me as another one of these OBAers, I dislike governments in general, but this is what we have to work with so deal with it.
U don’t know anything….I work for Govnt and I make less than the private sector…se haven’t had a pay increase in over 5 years….now my pay will be less than $700. Tell me how to survive would u….
You are more then welcome to go find a job in the private sector
well said sir, well said
Actually, the majority of government jobs pay less than their private sector counterparts. Even now after many private sector employees have had pay cuts they are still making more than their public employee counterparts. The advantage of working in the public sector is job security. The disadvantage is lower pay (significantly lower in good economic conditions). Additionally, the advantage of job security hurts those in lower positions that can’t move up for 10+ years because the post above them is filled, and the post above that, and the one above that…
The reason payroll is so expensive is that the size of the civil service was allowed to balloon. So there are a lot more employees but still many employees making less than private sector.
Thanks @Actually !! Many in government are making wages that fall below the poverty line. The Shared Sacrifice is only been done by some, but not others. I think folks need to ask exactly whom is doing the “SHARED SACRIFICE:?? It is only the small poorer man that is doing it, like always… but yet OBA sings out shared Sacrifice.
Giving big business big tax cuts, food stores prices are higher, BELCO, telco, and others….yet nothing to the average man. This is a joke, folks WAKE UP TO THIS GOVERNMENT”S MADNESS
I’m not sure if you are or not, but you can’t compare a job at w&e to that of someone who works for a private insurance company, but what I can tell you is these guys that work for w&e that take 6 months to fix a wall are getting paid more than your average mason or labourer in a private construction firm and with better benefits. The guys that work on the ferries make more than those that work on private vessels and what do they do? welcome people on and tie ropes. Not saying their jobs are insignificant but some of these guys are marine mechanics and not even using their skill but still making a decent wage. To the poster above who’s now making less than 700, what do you think I was making 200ft off the ground? My only incentive to do my job well was not becoming a stain on the ground. Oh and job security? As long as a government worker does his job and doesn’t screw up too bad, their job is secured between the unions and the potential for civil unrest and the government knows this, that’s why they can’t simply cut the bloated civil service, plus it would create more unemployment which would in turn have a negative impact on the economy the government is trying to fix. Again not trying to little anyone’s jobs and yea a pay cut does suck but you have a job and that’s valuable in itself.
Thank you PLP. I struggle even more now, meanwhile OBA hand out contracts…I bet Andrew Brooks is not struggling!
PLP is not the reasons for your lower wages. You did not have to vote for the wage decrease. Bermudians are an inactive bunch,and seldom willing to stand strong on anything. Rather write on blogs, but fail to take real action that would make a difference.
Vote for the OBA is what your now going to live with. The OBA has increase its size of government, given their Senators a huge wage increase. Hired consultants,spending on travel is high, taking unnecessary court acts to cost outrages amounts..doing all kinds of things that is now costing the tax payers….yet asking the small man to take the hit..while they have done nothing to sacrifice. Ask yourself who is really doing the shared sacrifice here…….I think not the OBA MPS and members.Only the POOR workers have made the REAL SACRIFICE
“given their Senators a huge wage increase. Hired consultants,spending on travel is high, taking unnecessary court acts to cost outrages amounts..doing all kinds of things that is now costing the tax payers….yet asking the small man to take the hit..while they have done nothing to sacrifice. Ask yourself who is really doing the shared sacrifice here…….I think not the OBA MPS and members.Only the POOR workers have made the REAL SACRIFICE”
Betty or who ever you are today… tell the whole truth the PLP Senators got the same raise note they did not complain about it at the time. What are you talking about with this “taking unnecessary court acts”. Speaking about court did we ever find out who was behind the “blind trust” who owns the court building. Shared sacrifice please let me make it clear to you I make around 2K a month you do the math thats 2000/4 = 500 per month and you got a government worker up here saying they can’t make it on $700 stop you noise and adjust you life style. Guess that put me in the poor catagory who knew I’m white…………….. vocal PLP supporters make me laugh I’m sure even they can’t truely believe the cr$% they try to sell the public on do they………………
LOL
WHO IS DOING THE SHARED SACRIFICES? ONLY THE POORER WORKERS< NOT THE OBA MPs OR MEMBER OR BIG BUSINESS…ask please just whom is doing it?
A change in the economy has impacted most countries worldwide, as well as Bermuda. So for the OBA to say it was due to the PLP, is a joke and lie at best.
It may not be the whole truth but what they did when in power did have an effect it the degree of the effect that we are discussing.
LOL
Agreed and I do understand the necessity for the Pay Cuts = poor financial management by previous government, but why are non- Bermudians hired to market our Golf Industry when we have very capable individual and corporate entities here in Bermuda. Carr and Brooks presided over a declining market over the past 5 years, what would make us confident that they’ll be successful now? Come on OBA, give the locals a chance, after all, we gave you one.
Where do Minister salaries and MP salaries fit into this?
Why do MP’s need to make $180,000? Government workers in general have enjoyed some big wages over the years. Some would say in some instances they have been overpaid.
(-;
To all the “Union Haters”….This is why various unions were out at meetings….This is the end result of our meetings……sucks….
Look at it this way if you love our country you know and now we also know that you’ve done your part. I thank you. Maybe in the nearer future due to your and Government workers’ sacrifice thing may get better.
LOL as stated I also make mutch less than when I started cost of living and inflation out way any increase at my level.
Well Bermuda I guess you should stop and thank all the government workers you see and thank them for taking a cut in such difficult financial times. Are the ministers and the rest taking a cut too? How about belco? Cablevision? Cell phone companies? Market place? Not just the small man has to help to pull us all out.
You should hope that these other privately owned companies do not cut back because they pay INTO the system while government take from the system.
I’m a Gov’t worker who is struggling….no cable, no internet, car is parked,groceries limited ,closing cell phone account…wht next…pissed off
Get a job in the private sector. Don’t wait for a hand out, it is not up to others to help you but it is upto you to help yourself.
How are you commenting with no phone or internet computer etc?
Good point, this is why the workers should not have agreed until the following also SHARED IN THE SACRIFICE…..BELCO, FOOD STORES, GOVERNMENT MPs, TELCO, TELEPHONE COMPANIES, Lindos and others. The workers should have force the Unions to have this matter addressed first. After all the BELCO bill eats up 1/2 ones pay-check a month.
NO SHARE SACRIFICE by the OBA just the poor WORKERS.
My Belco bill for a 2 bedroom apartment rarely goes above 150/month but will probably get above 200 in the summer cause of the AC. The Belco bill is something you can control. People just don’t want to make the sacrifices.
Since this agreement includes educators . . . how will MOED work this unpaid day out????? Who’s gonna watch the kids??????
in other countries, and states where educational furloughs were enforced the parents took on that responsibility.
You still go to work, you just don’t get paid for that day!
My apologies it is an un worked day
Officers will receive one unpaid and un-worked day per month for two years … Don’t u read well?
Sorry to be the bearer of more bad news but that means 12 less days in the school year.
4.6% reduction is nowhere near enough. So we remain in deep sh1t.
You have lost your damn mind . . .ask your MP’s who all have primary jobs to make up the difference. Government workers hace children to support and educate, mortgage to pay and bills just like those in the private sector!!!!
Yeah but there are just too many of them. PLP jobs for boys, time to cull.
Well if that be the case, it doesn’t look like the new government is doing any different. Case in point, why does the Premier need two advisors/Pr people . . .why does the touriam minister need an advisor . . .better yet why was the whole damn entourage in the Bahamas for their independence celebration on my damn tax dollars . . .should I keep going???????
And if there weren’t as many government jobs, our economy would tanked even more and more people would have lost their homes. Either way Government would have been paying them.. Did you forget about financial assistance?????
Get a grip and stop blaming the PLP and look at the whole picture not just one piece of the pie.
What makes government workers so special? Most people in the private sector have had pay cuts, no raises in years, downsizing (you have no idea what that means I know), redundancies. Everybody in the private sector has been fearful for years that their job is less secure. But the public sector workers are “special” aren’t they. We watched them get pay increases while everyone else got decreases. We watched them have “guarantees” about no redundancies. And now, when they finally give up a minimal percentage, they also work a day less.
If they want steady wages, the taxpayer should be able to fire the unnecessary and the incompetent.
Needs must, previous govt left us in a horrendous hole, at least this way it guarantees jobs. A good example of everyone working together for once for the good of the country.
Ahh you don’t remember Govt workers taking a cut a few years ago.
It is the Debt!!?? that is why no one took a pay cut. You do realize the Government borrows to pay your wages and that money has to be paid back. This is not for fun! Pay Cuts in the civil service are a must or we could go bankrupt and NO one would have a job in government. You are ignorant if you don’t understand the situation.
Good move in the right direction…
yup, 21 million dollars less going into the economy. wonder when the retail layoffs will start…
Retail layoffs have been going on for years. No government workers have experienced layoffs though have they? That’s probably why you are completely unaware of the retail jobs that have been lost. You’re too busy living in your little protected bubble where you think all jobs and all salaries are guaranteed.
Yes the retail layoffs have been going on, but now with less money going into the economy, they will continue. I’m too busy living in my protected bubble? I guess you assume that I am a government worker. And didn’t your mother tell you that assuming will make an ** out of you? Gosh, where do you people come up with this stuff?
So why did you say you “wonder when retail payoffs will start”? They’ve been going on for years, under the PLP government, who didn’t give a rat’s ass about making Bermudians unemployed.
What about the Government Quangos like Bermuda Monetary Authority whos salaries are equivalent to the private sector and get yearly bonuses. What about Bermuda Land Development, Wedco and Bermuda Housing Corporation and The Pension Commission. They all report to the Ministry of Finance. No one has said boo about these Quangos and whether this pay freeze applies to them.
The BMA is not funded by Government it is self funded. In other words our taxes do not pay their wages. The Civil Servants who took the pay cut today are all paid by us through the Government.
What you fail to understand is that govt workers pay the same taxes everyone else !!!
the Quangos (Bermuda Hospital Boards, Bermuda Health Council, Bermuda Montetary Authority, etc) employees are not considered government employees and as such are exempt from this.
i’m sure now that the unions have agreed, government will begin talking to the quangos…
Keep the cuts coming! Wait…
Thank you PLP for leaving the country in such a state that my family has to take a pay cut. I understand that this is necessary…..but there is no discount on school fees, groceries, utilities or plane tickets….
I would be interested in knowing if the Quangos fall under this also.
If you really think about it, -4.6% plus no pay raises for 2 years is around 10% if you factor in COL increases.
Well….at least the PLP got theirs…………….at every ones expense.
In the mean time our premier is raking in over $200K for nothing more then none stop photo ops. All while hiring consultants & press secretaries, etc. to do the job he is actually getting paid to do. All his hired help should be paid out of his pocket since they’re doing what we are paying him to do in the first place. The OBA removed the 5% pay cut put in place by the PLP for government thus many MPs and senators now get to enjoy a larger pay packet than they had just a year ago.
Not to mention how much he takes home from the gas stations….
What has that got to do with this????
I guess that he should just give them away?
Why should he give away his hard earned wealth? We live in a capitalist society. I think the original commentator was saying that he is making $200k and I went on to mention he is also making money from his businesses, so it is easy for him to say, “Let them eat cake”
As it was with Ewart, who’s government threw thousands out of work.
My sentiments exactly!!!
The PLP put the huge pay rise for MPs into place in the first place. The same year that they had the Civil Service take a pay freeze. So don’t come on here with your jabber about the OBA removing the 5% pay reduction. That was only symbolic.
What we need is at least a few MPs that aren’t rich. All MPs for both parties are very well-off. So even if they try to help lower income and middle income families they see it from a high income wealthy position. He who feels it knows it. And none of the MPs from either party know what it is to live in Bermuda as a low income household.
Don’t forget he is living at the Premier’s residence now. Who pays that bill? We the people?
…plane tickets,.. you got plane tickets?! Like, for a vacation?! I haven’t seen plane tickets in 4 or 5 years ! I need 6 months on another planet somewhere….
plane tickets so I don’t kill someone or get divorced. Bermuda is another world for sure..
There are some Quango workers who haven’t had COL increases in 3 years, is the 12 days without pay also included in this 4.6% reduction or is it additional?
Gov is not being honest. They have money obviously. You workers are being bamboozled.
Good point…bermuda open ur eyes…
If you had minus $2bn, would you say that you ” had money”?
This is a direct result of the incompetence of the former govt,as it put us in such a huge hole(national debt) that now the workers who they said they represent,have to pay!
My thanks to the union’s and workers for this agreement!but will government also now have talks with the insurance companys, banks and large supermarkets about bringing down some of these rates?????? i think not!!I still think government is to big??too many chiefs and not enough braves..like to see house of assembly coome down to 18 seats total! 2 from each parish , there for getting the best from are elected members….
The Government needs to get on Belco before they get on anyone else, they drive the cost of Living up for everyone and make food and products more expensive.
Agreed no need for BELCO’s prices to be as high as they are look around the whole world we must be one of the most expensive places to keep the power on. If Belco would have put some money into keep their tec up to date we would not be paying these crazy power bills.
LOL can anyone point me to a list of shareholders.
Not picking on you guys as others keep saying the same thing as well , but I’ve got to find a valid starting point somewhere.
Why is it always ‘belco’ that comes out of people’s mouths first ?
Yes, I hate my monthly belco bill for a 300 square foot bungalow with no a/c , gas stove and a water heater on a timer. I can’t imagine what it must be like for people who actually live in comfortable digs with 2 or more bedrooms and heaters in the winter and electric ovens but lets face it , belco is a SMALL part of the equation.
I’m sure everyone wold jump and down singing praises to the heavens if they did make a decrease , but even if they decreased their rate by 10% how much of an impact would it have on your yearly expenses ? Not much I can assure you.
The biggest factor ,by far, for most is rents. We’re paying probably 300% more for rented housing than what it’s really worth and there’s nothing we can do about it it seems.
Only if we can get out housing cost back down to where it should be will the working class stand a chance of making a comeback on this island. Unfortunately it means that everything else associated with the cost of housing will also have to take a meaningful and realistic cut. Everything associated with the costs of house maintenance will also have to be adjusted downwards. Painters, plumbers , electricians ,land tax the whole kit and kaboodle .
As an example , last week I had to buy a quart of house paint to do a little job. Bda cost $29.95 . The same can of paint in the US , $6.00
And that’s just one example . Here’s another .. I spied a house on line for rent this week , a two bedroom cottage. I knew the tenants that lived in it 3 years ago and what they paid. It may have had a new coat of paint , if that. New price is $600 more than what it was in 2010 !
So , keep raggin’ on about belco but don’t forget about rents , groceries (always increasing) and $10 a gallon gas.
Luxuries like cable , internet and to some degree cellphones , don’t hold your breath for real world pricing on them either.
Well done plp
this is just a thought has anyone thought this through I know workers who have said No problem I will get it back another way. I am sorry but there will be retaliation by other silent means. If you think things are taking long now watch and see. For Those workers that do work hard you have just relegated them to be like a lot of the other unproductive lazy workers. Yes I am a Civil servant who is effected and work hard but am discouraged now cause my fellow workers are lazy as heck. I have only worked Govt for a short year and wow it is Horrible what I see but I have to suffer because of it not fair really
A pittance of a give back after years of inflammatory wage increase but at least a very small step in the right direction.
When was there a recent inflammatory wage increase? Not for the average civil servants… You mean MP’s and their pensions right?
Inflammatory wage increases? For who? You must mean the MPs – I can’t remember the last pay raise that Government workers had.
Let’s remind you.
2011
http://bernews.com/2011/05/premier-cox-bpsu-decision-positive-step/
2010
http://bernews.com/2010/03/bpsu-1078-annual-raise-for-civil-servants/
Compare that to the private sector, where many people have had no increase for 6 years, and in many cases reductions in remuneration for years . And there have been redundancies, downsizing, and closures; things that no public employee has seen.
Public employees act like they’re some kind of protected species.
LOL, 1.5% increase? That doesn’t even keep up with the cost of living! It’s a joke.
Yeah, there have been redundancies and closures in the private sector, but I know for a fact that, for the most part
many companies HAVE been giving their employees increases in the past 6 years. Not only that, but the wages are higher in the private sector compared to the Government workers. I’m not talking about senior civil servants – I’m talking about the average worker NOT making six figures. So no, I don’t believe that, for the most part, the private sector is feeling all that much pain. When I see CEOs taking cuts, then yeah, I’ll agree.
Know don’t know sh1t for a fact.
“When I see CEOs taking cuts, then yeah, I’ll agree.”
How convenient for you. For your information, most people in the private sector aren’t CEOs. We’re ordinary workers. What we don’t have is protected guaranteed employment, 6 weeks vacation, 14 weeks sick pay, and a day off in return for the pay cuts we’ve been getting.
You civil service people are the ones who live in an ivory tower. You have no idea what it is to struggle to keep a job in the real world.
Yeah, actually, I do know s***. I get my info from the source – where does yours come from? My guess would be, general assumptions – like how you assumed I’m a civil servant. Wrong. I work in the PRIVATE sector, mate.
Duh, most people in the private sector are not CEOs; in the same way, most people in the public sector are not highly paid Permanent Secretaries! And NO most civil servants do not receive 6 weeks vacation, 14 weeks sick pay – not unless they’ve been there for a very long time. I worked in the public sector for a while, I was aware of the benefits.
I have no issue with Government making pay cuts – as long as it doesn’t affect the ordinary folks. Let people making over say $100,000 take a pay cut. They can afford it.
“Let people making over say $100,000 take a pay cut. They can afford it.”
There you go again. In the private sector EVERY level has been hurting, for years. EVERY level has seen cuts, downsizing, redundancies. No level has been protected. Yet in your mind thousands of public servants, even the ones who aren’t needed, should have guaranteed jobs and no impact on their pay.
In the private sector we’ve been seeing it for years.
And if you haven’t, maybe you’re in one of the few places where things have been rosy. Well good for you. For the rest of us, we’ve been dealing with reality, and it’s about time public servants have to deal with the same.
And yes, public servants DO get 14 weeks sick and up to 33 days vacation. You said : “Not until they have been there a very long time.” It takes 4 years to qualify for the 14 weeks sick leave. And vacations START at 19 days.
By the way, your maths and comprehension skills are sh1t as well. 1.5% + 1.5% compounded equals nearly 3.5% increase since 2010. That compares to decreases and job losses in the private sector.
BTW, my math and comprehension skills are just fine thanks. You can compound the increase all you want – I know of companies that have awarded 3% increases THIS YEAR – including mine. Government has awarded no cost of living increases for 2 years. It doesn’t work to paint the private sector with a broad brush, claiming all companies are suffering – they’re not.
Really. So all those business closures, all those redundancies, all that downsizing, all those jobs lost, thousands and thousands of them, all happened because private companies are doing very well.
I see.
Sorry CEO’s make up what 1% or less of the total population for the IB.
LOL
OBA is a joke
Did you think the same way about the PLP when they asked the Unions to agree to a 5 percent pay cut last year?
This is caused by the PLP’s joke called unsustainable debt.
Yes they are a joke. Hmmmmm we need to save some to spend some. Oh I know lets give middle and lower class gov workers a pay cut so we can continue to hire consultants, take meaningless trips and give away millions in tax relief. Guess what the workers are to dumb to realize what we are doing. Great idea OBA
The cost overrun on the Dame Lois building was $26m. There would be no pay cut right now had that one job out of many been on budget. The current Government has to make hard decisions, if not the country will go bankrupt and we will look like Hati in a couple of years time as our economy collapses. This is the reality, it might be hard to swallow but the consultants and the high paid MP’s are the ones who will need to bring us out of this mess. If we don’t pay them, then they would not want to work for Government. It is a mess but hopefully things can turn around.
On the other hand, BELCO is the biggest contributor to the high cost of everything at the moment and we need the public and the government to put pressure on them to lower electricity costs. Everything we do requires power and we have some of the most expensive power in the world.
And if Grand Atlantic hadn’t been built at a cost of $60m, standing empty for nearly two years now, maybe this wouldn’t have been needed.
But noooo. The PLP was good at spending, spending and spending.
This is not OBA’s fault. The former Government were working on this before the election. Only reason they did not do it was for the vote.
I do not disagree with this decision, however I find it hard to swallow when people like Andrew Brooks get contracts! It is these types of decisions which should be the reason people take to the streets.
You can thank the PLP for all of this.
They should make a decision and not pay the Opposition. That will save us a few dollars as well.
Wow, seriously….this is why the island is still so divided. All we do is point fingers at each other. The “private sector this” and the “public sector that”. At the end of the day, we all need to pull up our pants and do what needs to be done to get OUR Bermuda back. Maybe if ppl would stop being so negative and unfriendly to each other, and got back to the good ol’ days when neighbors helped neighbors, we wouldn’t feel the crunch so much. Just a thought…
Too much sense you have……….
LOL +1
Hey you think the grocery stores would give us Gov workers 5% off and 10% off on Groceries over $100? Geeze! now instead of two rolls of toilet paper a week I can only afford One. lol
5% on humpday man.
LOL
Before buying those $5,000 rims & stereo for ya blade next time, think first..
I will never vote for the PLP again!
Why is it we have to take pay cuts!? but everything is going up! this is not fair for the lower class. all i see is the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.. whether it be Private sector or Government every man and woman should be payed a decent wage to survive comfortably…you cant live no life making $650.00 a week! What are we working for really????? to pay bills everymonth. This aint living. Its Modern day slavery..I spend more time @ my job then with my family..and that aint right.
I agree, the Government needs to address the cost of living. But what has to be realized is that this was necessary, the previous Government overspent beyond belief and things like the Music Festival that cost us $12m and the Dame Lois Brown building that cost us over $100m are just a few examples of what has come back to bite us now. We have to payback the money we owe and at the moment the whole country owes about $80,000 per head thanks to the PLP. I don’t have that kind of money spare and not many do. You can thank the previous Government for this, the current one has no choice but to get us out of a hole.
Booya!!!!!!
Sounds a lot like communism…
This is a bandaid. Feel bad for the ones struggling, but if this was any other organization layoffs would be made. Cutting expenses is a necessary move for companies to survive. Why is this any different? just because someone needs a job doesnt mean the civil Service (we) need to foot the bill. The PLP(BIU) is still running this government and are obviously the heavy influence on decisions made..
I think all govt workers should take the same day a month off EVERY MONTH
@ Jus Saying But Seriously – Bingo!!! Ding Ding Ding – ringing the bells!! I agree. The people would be upset about that. In a way it would save money on the electricity for the government officers.
I think the country would then pay attention cause, on that day, TCD would be shut down, customs would shut down….the prisons would be left unsupervised, every single bus and ferry would be parked…..Bermuda would be in an uproar if all govt workers put tools down EVERY MONTH FOR ONE DAY FOR TWO YEARS!!!!!!!!!
They already do… Monday through Friday.
This is a joke! This country will NEVER dig itself out of the debt spiral with such paltry cuts. It should have been 10% at least and a reduction in the work week.
How is it that Govt is cutting pay, but hiring “consultants”
How is this going to affect teachers…..do the schools shut down or that class not be held be cause the teacher is taking their MANDATORY day off???
How is it that the Govt borrowing more money but cutting the throats of its own???
Govt workers have already agreed to a pay freeze for the past two years but now they are expected to now take a pay cut while the rate of inflation continues to grow. Grocery prices are still going up and rents aren’t coming down, but Govt workers making anything under $60,000 will fail to do the max minimum for themselves and their families!!!!!
It would be interesting to see how much $$$ in cost overruns for Government projects like the Dame Louis building, Berkley, BHC, Faith based tourism and The Music Festival actually equate to? Off the top of my head I reckon it is well over $100 million. The government at the time spent this money indiscriminately… Wake up people, the money was squandered, how many jobs would it have paid for now! Any you want to blame the current government when we are Billions of $$$ in debt from the previous one. That is the whole reason why the pay cuts are taking place.
I see many private businesses still laying people off. Are these actions also the result of Government debt? When E&Y, BNTB, etc talk about “global restructuring for efficiency” are they lying? Or is the global economy still in the tank?
Just curious.
But Portia, I thought according to you that private businesses were doing great, giving out pay increases to everyone. Everything’s great in the private sector, according to you.
Portia, we are talking about the civil service, the wages and jobs the taxpayer pays for. The pay cut etc. No of course private businesses laying off people is not the result of the debt, but in relation it means a few less tax $$ when people are fired.
Government workers, please ask Judith Hall-Bean why is she still working. I thought she retired last year.
She running her mouth, remember she not going to feel the pinch.
It’s time for the Government Workers to take the same action they done recently in Brazil. Biggest protest in history – over 200,000 ppl hit the streets over increase in taxes. All Unions have sold out the workers.
Hopefully the Union leaders are also subject to this action as well…
Govt will actually lose on this deal. The cost associated with amount of sick days that will be taken due to the attitudes this will cause will far exceed $21M…
Govt workers taking sick days has zero impact on anything since they do very little to begin with.
I’m glad that they have come to an AGREEMENT (key word peeps).
Good point, this is why the workers should not have agreed until the following also SHARED IN THE SACRIFICE…..BELCO, FOOD STORES, GOVERNMENT MPs, TELCO, TELEPHONE COMPANIES, Lindos and others. The workers should have force the Unions to have this matter addressed first. After all the BELCO bill eats up 1/2 ones pay-check a month.
NO SHARE SACRIFICE by the OBA just the poor WORKERS.
@ Tramsparency for Real!! excellent point of view.
More repercussions from the former govt!
All these comments about taking a 4.6% cut and blaming the OBA?? Yeah the OBA in 6 months have caused this – trust me the alternative they could have taken would have been to cut all the jobs that are no longer required. Tell me why the trash men can go on strike and then come back to work and get paid triple time?? Why they can’t pick up the trash in normal working hours when they are meant to and instead do so when they collect double time?? The abuse of the system is appalling and spiralled us all into debt.
BTW it isn’t really a 4.6% savings anyway, who is going to pick up the slack in work when the workers are sitting at home? A 4.6% pay cut is when you work the same hours and earn less money, not working less hours. Having 12 working days less a year will have a knock on affect somewhere…..
The comments about the private sector earning more money are ridiculous. Those jobs aren’t a birth right just because you are Bermudian. The people who have those jobs work 12 hour days, went to university to study for the position, continue to do exams to remain in those positions. For those of you who think you deserve the jobs then tell me how many insurance exams you have completed and how far along you are in the accountancy qualifications and then you will have an argument.
For the comments that will surely follow, yes I am Bermudian…….
Like!
It is my birth right this is my country and I claim it in the name of my dear departed grand mother born in this country whose sacred bones lie burried under it’s soil along with her generation and those generations who came before who built the foundation of this country.
You dare call youself a Bermudian? such like have sold out the interests of this country from time in memoriam and in many countries have lid the fires of civil war to settle the issure.
The government workers and thier families are the back bone of this country’s economy. They have now made thier sacrifice; now we await the turn of others in this country; from the banks to the supemarkets. For we will not carry this burden for the economic recovery of this country upon our backs alone.
How many supermarkets have to go out of business for people to believe that they’re sharing in the financial pain?
You don’t think they’re in competition?
Why doesn’t the BIU use its considerable financial muscle to start a supermarket. It could charge fair prices, presumably significantly less than every other supermarket, and would provide a valuable service to the community. It could hire only Bermudians, and pay all its employees top wages, giving them 33 days vacation and 14 weeks sick pay a year, just like civil servants get.
Come on, BIUPLP, show us how it’s done.
Uhh…how do I start saving money now? :/