BTUC Reaches Agreement With Govt PSNT
The Bermuda Trade Union Congress [BTUC] and Associate Members announced that a “mutually beneficial agreement has been reached, delivering a favourable outcome for members across all relevant bargaining units.”
A spokesperson said, “The Bermuda Trade Union Congress [BTUC] and Associate Members are pleased to announce that, following extensive and productive negotiations with the Government Public Service Negotiations Team [PSNT], a mutually beneficial agreement has been reached, delivering a favourable outcome for members across all relevant bargaining units.
“The BTUC and its Associate Members consist of the following trade unions: [1] the Bermuda Public Services Union; [2] the Bermuda Industrial Union; [3] the Bermuda Union of Teachers; [4] the Fire Services Association; [5] the Bermuda Police Association; and [6] the Prison Officers’ Association.
“In 2024, the Government said that it would make the wages of Government employees ‘whole’ to offset rising inflation and acknowledge the sacrifices of our members, who have endured multiple wage freezes since 2012 and accepted furlough days to support cost- saving measures. These selfless acts exemplify the level of service and commitment of Government employees of all levels in ensuring a properly functioning public service.
“The Government honoured their statement in 2024, and both parties agreed to use the 2014/2015 fiscal period as the baseline for assessing the financial impact on members. The proposed wage increases not only place our members ahead of inflation but also help offset six [6] of the eight [8] wage freezes they previously endured.
“After reaching a provisional agreement, the PSNT’s offer was presented to the member unions and ratified by their respective memberships.
“This agreement is a testament to the tireless advocacy of our trade union executives, who worked diligently to secure fair and equitable compensation for its members. Their unwavering efforts in these negotiations have helped to address longstanding pay disparities while reinforcing the fundamental rights of its members.
“Looking ahead, we urge the Government to take a proactive approach in ensuring Government employees’ wages remain aligned with inflation, preventing them from having to seek additional employment or alternative means to make ends meet.
“Finally, we look forward to working with the newly elected administration, following the General Election on 18 February 2025, to uphold the rights of workers, including fair and equitable pay, across our respective trade unions and throughout the public service.”
Is this the only goodie not used during the election or can we expect more?
Those who will benefit from it knew about it before the election. The unions and PLP are parts of the same animal.
Had the members not known of their pay increases before the election it is safe to assume that many would have stayed at home or not voted for the PLP. This would have resulted in the loss of more than 5 seats.
A clear example of unethical, but not illegal, action by the PLP. Y’all voted for 5 more years, or at least until Burt is gone, of it.
So the Government employees endured furlough days and lack of inflation raises, yet during the pandemic, they received full pay and benefits. In the real world, Government shut down companies and put restrictions on work so that many people had no pay or benefits. No wonder this was kept quiet until after the electiuon. Brings new meaning to the PLP using the slogan “A fairer Bermuda”, no wonder “for us” was included in small print. Clearly only for a certain segment.
Government did not receive full pay and benefits during the pandemic. We took a 10% pay cut and no contributions to our superannuation!!!
That’s 90% more than many in the private sector. By the way, no contributions to your superannuation makes no difference to your pension, as it is based on defined benefits, and guaranteed. Hardly shared sacrifice is it? The private sector though does suffer when payments are stopped.
ALL Government employees got increases..What about BHB ( KEMH/MWI) staff.These are the healthcare workers who work throughout COVID, work 24 hrs per day , 365 days per year but have not had any salary increase or cost of living increase in almost 8 years !… Is there any wonder there is chronuc staff shortage and inability to retain or recruit staff ?..
Additional with the government MP’s getting 18 % increase, what happen to the healthcare workers working in the trenches daily?.. This is not acceptable…
I am very happy the BPSU was able to represent the government workers..BHB falls under BPSU remit but are not represented well despite paying dues like everyone else..Healthcare workers need to stand up and fight for themselves. YES most of you are expats, but Bermuda CANNOT survive without you, you need to make your voices heard !
So, what about BHB Frontline employees. What about BHB and the overworked, understaffed establishment that handled the brunt of the pandemic, leaving their families and children to assist the citizens of Bermuda while putting themselves at risk. The BPSU has accepted favorable offers on behalf of SOME of its representatives and have left the others to starve. COULD WE PLEASE GET OUR DUES BACK PLEASE SO WE CAN GO NEGOTIATE FOR OURSELVES?
Hopefully the BPSU will next work with hospital staff to obtain pay raises to “make the wages of employees ‘whole’ to offset rising inflation and acknowledge the sacrifices the frontline staff endured during COVID – when we were asked to keep working and take a pay CUT!!!. No cost of living raise or up to date bargaining agreement since 2022. Some salary differences between hospital staff and government employees are as high as $30 grand a year…
Surely hospital frontline employees also show selfless acts that exemplify the level of service and commitment of hospital employees of all levels in ensuring a function hospital for our residents.
Every single union in Bermuda has bargined and recieved increase for their members…EXCEPT BPSU- BHB!!!
Bpsu a sellout and fraud. Collecting dues of $90 per month and sell out them members at BHB. We need to fire them .No pay increase from 2022. Bpsu a sellout. Big big sellout. Taking members hard working money and not representing them Fake Bpsu. We need to fire them .Time for a new union representative for BHB members
It’s encouraging to see the government taking steps to ensure its employees are being fairly compensated. However, it’s disheartening to notice that frontline healthcare workers—those who risked their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep the nation safe—are being overlooked. Why haven’t these essential workers been made “whole” as well? While one group of employees is receiving significant increases, the very people who held the backbone of our communities during the crisis—nurses, doctors, and all healthcare professionals—are left without similar recognition or support. This unequal treatment feels unjust and borders on discrimination. These dedicated individuals deserve the same level of respect and compensation for their sacrifices and unwavering service. It’s time to prioritize those who truly kept us safe.
Why has been the hospital workers been neglected for all these years? Why is BPSU not treating this with urgency? Why is it that hospital workers are being watched living hand to mouth? Where is the representation? Where is the fairness?
What about BPSU-BHB? It’s truly alarming that we haven’t seen a cost of living adjustment since 2018. With living expenses continually rising, many of us are struggling to keep up.
I’m happy our Government colleagues were able to successfully negotiate wage increases, but I’m left feeling bitter that we are yet again forgotten. Understaffed, overworked and underpaid is taking its toll on us. It’s crucial for BPSU and BHB to act now.
Why has the hospital workers been neglected for all these years? Why is BPSU not treating this with urgency? Why is it that hospital workers are being watched living hand to mouth? Where is the representation? Where is the fairness?
The BHB staff have long been neglected! Told at one point to take a wage cut to save jobs. The buzzwords are ” Do more with less”. Meanwhile the numbers of VPs continue to rise . Positions which hold massive pay grades. Why? It’s a small hospital. How many VPs do you need? So many staff leave, so many have retired or died. But still no money unless it’s for ridiculous projects, trips etc. All frontline staff deserve better . Someone asked why staff( especially guest workers )don’t make a noise..simple because they are seen as troublemakers and their contracts won’t be renewed. There’s so much nonsense going on and a culture of bullying
While I am happy that BTUC and its fellow associates has managed to negotiate a successful deal with the Government PSNT, it is
While I am glad that the BTUC and its fellow associates has managed to negotiate with the Government PSNT, It has become obvious that the BPSU does not currently have the best interests of all frontline healthcare workers.
With the continuing cost of living crisis that is exacerbated by living in Bermuda it is imperative that we receive the same benefits that are afforded to other frontline service workers. Considering that we are MANDATED to work weekends, holidays and during hurricanes/natural disasters and have not had a salary review in the past decade is Unacceptable. Why were BHB employees not included in this process and what is the BPSU doing with our union dues! If they are not willing to advocate and negotiate for us we should have the option of not funding them and saving our money!
I heard BPSU got a new bar…
Why is the one hospital not Goverment?
It makes nosence. We have been dealt a bad hand.No cost of living increase or raised in years. All oir staff are leaving BHB to go work in Goverment and private companies yet ot doesnt seem to matter to the powers that be.
Only matters when there love one is sick and tgeu want to demand 4 to 5 days a week therapy with no staff. BPSU NEEDS TO DO BETTER start representing the people that are paying you, we nolonger want to hear the hospital is broke we deserve a raise and cost of living increase aswell. Do better Bermuda one hospital and the staff are treated like thrid world.
From the…: ‘Mr Quallo said that negotiations had started last November after the Government offered to make public sector salaries “whole”.’
Must be nice having negotiations open and an agreement be reached all within 4 months. Meanwhile at BHB we are repeatedly told that the process takes time… there are steps to follow… we’re waiting for this next meeting… we’re robbing Peter to pay Paul.
The government has a huge stake in BHBs funding model, but no change in the funding since 2019…
We also have a CBA that is now 3 years out of date, would be nice to have some strong representation from the BPSU
The healthcare workers have been ignored for one reason and one reason only, the vast majority are expats. They are an easy target for exploitation and exploited they are. The Gov can find funds to give themselves a big pay raise, but no funds for the hard working and dedicated healthcare staff. Bermudian politicians has always view expat workers as somehow inferior to locals, I guess this inaction confirms that. They like to ask for shared sacrifice but in this case, the sacrifice is forced on one group. Do better Mr. Politician
I wholeheartedly agree with my fellow BHB colleagues and echo their sentiments as I too am tired of the prolonged process of salary increases. Why couldn’t BHB be included with these other trade union groups at this time?!? WE NEED A RESOLUTION NOW!
Please BPSU, represent the BHB staff as I am SICK and TIRED of hearing my sister’s rants about inflation rates and the pay not being reflective of it.. Just asking that you do your job.. You’re collecting their dues every month!
Time to down tools and sick out , like everyone else !!!!….
We can no longer afford to live in Bermuda…And for those who will say ‘then go home ‘…. Have you considered what would happen if every expat on this Island left ?… Bermuda would crash ! ( healthcare, hotel and hospitality, international business, insurance, Police, teachers, ).Check history, Cayman Islands tried it in the late 90′s , within a year they begged all the Jamaican nurses to return !! .Don’t bite the hands that care for you..Be smart BHB and BPSU…
No pay increase for 10 years. 50% cost of living increase over the same period. This means I have an effective 50% pay cut. BPSU have been collecting dues for 10 years and delivered nothing. Where have our dues gone and who benefits.
“The proposed wage increases not only place our members ahead of inflation …”
Would that be the locally reported inflation rate of 2.5% to 3% or the real retail price inflation rate?
Since the money comes out of taxpayers pockets and therefore is limitless the real inflation rate, more than likely influenced by the US rate, is most likely used.
I don’t think that anyone uses Government figures, except Burt’s speech writers.
“the money comes out of taxpayers pockets and therefore is limitless”
Actually, I disagree. By making Bermuda “fairer” I am poorer and if this keeps up I will have to leave my island home for somewhere I can afford to live
The exodus will just continue along with my retirement plan this year at 67 , no option for me unless i keep working .
I feel your pain
Just wondering, who negotiates on the behalf of Government, the taxpayers, when dealing with the unions. Surely it cant be Government employees, the civil service, whose salaries are being determined.
Just asking.
This is great news for the recipients, but a slap in the facevfor those essential workers who have been working with no increase in pay or COLA over several years. BPSU members working for the hospital have been left in the dark about the state of negotiations, and at most just offered a “we’re working on it” response. Working at the hospital at present means needing 2 and 3 jobs to just meet basic needs. Morale is low, staffing even lower, a very sad state of affairs when BPSU dues are coming out of the monthly wages of workers every month.
BPSU-BHB does not represent the BHB frontline staff they represent BHB administration…
From asking us to take a paycut just before the pandemic, then asking us to take straight pay for overtime..While at the same time Csuite is getting yearly bonuses, BHB continues to waste money with consultants and directors of 1 person departments…
We need to vote NO CONFIDENCE against BPSU….we want our Dues back !!!!
Why are BHB staff treated differently.
BPSU- where is the representation??
We have been on a Pay freeze for over 8 years and yet BPSU has done nothing about it. We do not pay the dues to BPSU to tell us that the hospital has no money. Such poor representation which makes us wonder who you really represent, staff or BHB management. There is one hospital and this is how staff get treated. We are the people who risked our lives during Pandemic, leaving our families behind and strive hard every day to deliver quality health care even at times when hospital is overflowing with patients with full occupancy on wards and ED hallways. We deserve to be treated better than this.
We can put patients first if the hospital 5th floor execs, the unions and the government continue to put healthcare workers last… just saying
This should read
We can’t put patients first if the hospital 5th floor execs, the unions and the government continue to put healthcare workers last… just saying
As someone who have worked for BHB for more than a decade I can verify that most staff take home WAY less per month than we did a decade ago due to cost of living increases. They wonder why morale is low here… balloon arches and cupcakes are NOT what we want!!!
As a BIU BHB employee I’m furious right now. As much as we BHB employees endured and sacrificed for the benefit of Hospital this is how we’re thanked. My Fellow BIU BHB Colleagues we need to have a serious RETROACTIVE/ RENEGOTIATION conversation with our UNION and EMPLOYER. I feel like we the BIU staff have been thoroughly shafted AGAIN.