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BIU workers approve new CBA

Jonathan Bell
Updated: Jun 13, 2019 08:59 AM
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Good outcome: Chris Furbert, the president of the BIU, chats with members after they approved a new collective bargaining agreement with the Government at a meeting at St Paul AME Centennial Hall in Hamilton yesterday (Photograph by Akil Simmons)

Bermuda Industrial Union members approved a wage increase offered by the Government yesterday.

Hundreds of unionised staff voted on a new collective bargaining agreement settled by their negotiating team.

Chris Furbert, the president of the BIU, said about 600 members turned out for the meeting at St Paul AME Centennial Hall.

“They accepted the proposal that the BIU negotiating team presented to them,” Mr Furbert said, estimating that 95 per cent of attendees had agreed.

The CBA, which is regularly adjusted, covers salaries and other conditions of employment.

According to ZBM last night, the wage rise agreed was retroactive to last year. The 2019 wage remains to be negotiated.

The option of pursuing arbitration was turned down, Mr Furbert added.

The union head emphasised that the Bermuda Government held its own separate agreements with both the Bermuda Union of Teachers and the Bermuda Public Services Union.

At least half the BIU membership gathered for the meeting, which concluded at noon.

The session had an impact on services for the morning, from public transport to postal delivery and school support staff.

Proposal accepted: BIU members leave the meeting; buses parked in Church Street while drivers attend yesterday (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
Proposal accepted: BIU members leave the meeting; buses parked in Church Street while drivers attend yesterday (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
BIU meeting at St Paul’s (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
BIU meeting at St Paul’s (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
A union member arrives for a meeting at St Paul AME Centennial Hall today (Photograph by Owain Johnston-Barnes)
BIU meeting at St Paul’s (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
Buses park in Church Street while drivers attend the Bermuda Industrial Union meeting yesterday (Photograph by Raymond Hainey)