Bermuda Police Association On Negotiations
“Our entitlement to free medical advice and treatment is enshrined in our Conditions of Service Orders,” the Bermuda Police Association [BPA] said, adding that they are “supportive of making the required sacrifices, but is it fair to ask our members to relinquish our right to free medical advice and treatment, in order to receive the same salary increases you have given everyone else.”
Government Statement
This follows after the Government said that while “negotiations with the BPSU, BUT and the BIU have reached favourable resolutions, the same cannot be said for the Government’s negotiations with the uniformed services unions.”
“Regrettably neither the Fire Services Association (FSA), nor the Prison Officers Association (POA) have agreed to participate in the austerity measures programme.
“In these circumstances the Government will be required to implement rigid payroll measures within these Departments to achieve the required savings. The cost cutting measures may vary by Department, but could include significant operational changes and reduced services to support rolling lay-offs and other payroll related measures,” the statement said.
“The likely outcome for these officers, who are members of the uniform services unions, is likely reduced monthly income given their decision not participate in the austerity measures programme which was specifically designed to protect the earning power of public officers.”
“Furthermore, the Government continues to await a response from the Bermuda Police Association (BPA) and remains hopeful that its officers will participate in the austerity measures programme.”
Bermuda Police Association Statement
The Chairman of the Bermuda Police Association said, “The Bermuda Police Association [BPA] wishes to clear up some negative perceptions that may currently exist within the community with regards to police officers not supporting government’s austerity measures.
“Our members have recognized the impact of the pandemic on the public purse, government’s efforts to control the fiscal deficit and to keep Bermudians employed. We also applaud government for its management of the pandemic that has so far resulted in minimal impact to the island.
“The BPA is committed and determined to do our part to assist government and all our good faith efforts to date have evidenced this. Government on the other hand has repeatedly moved the goal posts whenever it appears that we are close to an agreement.
“Our entitlement to free medical advice and treatment is enshrined in our Conditions of Service Orders and it is unreasonable for government to demand that we relinquish that right in order for us to receive the same salary increases and retroactive pay that have been already given to all other unions and associations without attaching any conditions.
“What is also important to note is that the members of the BPA have not had salary increases since 2012 despite all other unions and associations receiving similar pay increases.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the BPA has not rejected government’s austerity measures and in fact we are very supportive of making the required sacrifices, but is it fair to ask our members to relinquish our right to free medical advice and treatment, in order to receive the same salary increases you have given everyone else?
“The BPA remains open and committed to finding an amicable solution with government that is reasonable to all parties and in the best interests of Bermuda.”
Your “right” to free medical? More of a privilege.
Will Government be giving themselves increase AGAIN THIS YEAR?
So we are in a time of crisis were EVERYONE should be towing de line together and we have some with a selfish mindset!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
F@#&ing PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We could save money by laying off paid PLP consultants and media trolls.
Perhaps then our police and prison services could remain at full strength and protect us from those who will not live by the rules of civilised society.
Pathetic is a civil service, and government, who refuse to take a pay cut…but expect front line workers to.
You, OJ, are pathetic.
i dont feel no way cause it funny how they saying this but when dna evidence left by crooks needed to be processed to help catch the crooks and get my stuff back, it was denied processing because i was told not enough was stolen
“while “negotiations with the BPSU, BUT and the BIU have reached favourable resolutions, the same cannot be said for the Government’s negotiations with the uniformed services unions. … In these circumstances the Government will be required to implement rigid payroll measures within these Departments to achieve the required savings. The cost cutting measures may vary by Department, but could include significant operational changes and reduced services to support rolling lay-offs and other payroll related measures,” the statement said.”
In other words, do as the PLP Government says or be punished