Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Philip Brave Davis (centre) with leaders of several trade unions on Wednesday. Davis signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas and Trade Union Congress. Photo credit: PLP.
~ Unions back PLP to form next government ~
NASSAU, The Bahamas--The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Wednesday with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas (NCTU), pledging to address key labour issues if elected to government.
The document was not made public.
However, a draft of the MOU obtained by The Nassau Guardian pointed to the enactment of a liveable wage, the supply of a parcel of land to each umbrella union to build their national headquarters and the full implementation of National Health Insurance.
“The parties agree that the PLP will be supported by the labour movement to become the next government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas,” the draft states.
During the MOU signing ceremony at BCPOU Hall, TUC President Obie Ferguson said it took months to iron out “what we consider to be important, essential things for the working people.
“I can ensure all workers – the 200,000-plus workers in this country – when we disclose to them the terms, the proposals, the initiatives that we worked out and that we have been able to work out with the Progressive Liberal Party, it will be clear to them as to why we are where we are,” he said.
“We are now one. We are indeed one organisation. I know that you would want me to go into specifics, but I do not intend to do that. What I am prepared to say to you is: we have reached an agreement.”
Ferguson said he was “extremely pleased” with the document, which was signed by the leadership of the PLP, NCTU and TUC.
PLP Leader Philip Brave Davis said the document was “precatory” and signalled the unification of labour in the Bahamas.
“I say precatory understanding because the committee of the Progressive Liberal Party, headed by our chairperson and in consultation with myself … have looked at the workers’ agenda having found favour with the spirit and intent of those provisions and we are prepared to demonstrate our embrace of the spirit and intent by putting and appending our signature to this precatory document,” Davis said.
“It is subject, of course, to my taking it to our leadership council and [National General Council – Ed.] NGC council, which we hope to do in short order to get their blessings. I am not unsatisfied that we will not be successful in doing so. And so, we do this because I acknowledge, and we must remind our people what the labour movement is all about. The labour movement without argument is the bedrock of democracy.
“The labour movement spurred the concept of universal suffrage. The labour movement has determined the political direction of every administration in the history of our democracy. Without question, the working class realised democracy for our Bahamas. Therefore, I am of the firm view that crushing and ignoring organised labour is a fundamental attack on democratic values.”
He said the PLP hopes to present the MOU to the party’s council before the September 16 general election.
Davis said he and PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell will attempt to do so “in the context of the protocols of COVID right now.”
When asked if the items in the MOU would be on the list of things for a Davis administration, he replied, “Well, you identified an issue that is minimum wage. If you would’ve visited our website, read our economic plan that we released several months ago … one of the planks in that is to immediately raise minimum wage to [US] $250 and then work from there to introduce what we call a liveable wage, because we are not satisfied that $250 may be a liveable wage.
“Two hundred and fifty dollars may only be – again, where we are now – people living from paycheque to paycheque and still carrying overdraft and still owing while they’re doing so.
“We’re hoping, at the end of the day, to move this country to where we can accept what is a liveable wage and agree that it is our obligation and duty to at least let people work in dignity to live from what they earn and not have to worry.”
Davis said the unions appreciate that this would be a work in progress, but “we will get there.”
He said that “there is no wrong time to do the right thing.”
“I add my personal commitment to that of the Progressive Liberal Party to support the work and function of the labour movement,” Davis said.
“Our commitment is demonstrated by our actions here today [Wednesday].”
The draft document states that, as a matter of public policy and where possible in statute and in regulations, formal consultations with the parties will occur before the approval processes of the grant of permission and concessions to foreign investors.
“The parties agree to amend the law and regulations to strengthen the role of conciliators and to enable the rulings of the Industrial Tribunal to be enforced without delay,” the document states.
It also notes that the parties agree to work to carry out the provisions of the National Development Plan.
The document also states, “The parties agree to ensure that National Health Insurance is fully implemented for all citizens and residents of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, including hospitalisation and catastrophic care. The parties agree to work toward the enactment of a liveable wage.”
It also states the parties agree to work toward the enactment of a comprehensive Consumer Protection Act.
The document reads, “The parties agree that the labour movement and the PLP in government should meet from time to time, but not less than quarterly, to review the progress of this memorandum and matters of mutual concern.”
According to the draft, a PLP government would “use its good offices to ensure that the spirit and the letter of the law regarding industrial agreements in the hotel and tourism sectors, and any other sectors, are concluded.” ~ The Nassau Guardian ~
