union

Scores of workers of the Bahamas Public Service Union gathered near Parliament Square advocating for pay increases, chanting “We want our money and we want it now.”

What happened

The group along with President Kimsley Ferguson is calling for salary increases and has accused the government of ‘union busting.’ He said the government is stalling negotiations and the union is still waiting for its industrial agreement to be signed.

While Down Town, he and other leaders of various unions in the country held a conversation with Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper but Ferguson said he was not satisfied and was “very disappointed”  in the government’s response.

“There is a serious case for concern when there is no integrity in the leadership of the country… There is no one to speak for the public servants,” he said.

Ferguson said he and the group will up the ante if the demands for increased pay are not met.

“We will continue to agitate until we get the results we want.”

Why it matters

The government has proposed annual increases for permanent secretaries, directors and department heads. The union says it shows that the government has sufficient funding to give public servants adequate increases.

Many pharmacies are closed today until further notice to protest the government’s decision to implement price control on medications which they say will negatively impact their ability to operate.

The pharmaceutical retailers and wholesalers said they were not consulted and were “blindsided” by the government’s decision to add fourteen of its medications to a price control list.

The Bahamas Pharmaceutical Association which represents the whole and retail pharmacies in the country said the price control measures cut into their budget and threaten their ability to remain open.

Here’s a list of Pharmacies Open today, many of which include government clinics.

1. McCartney’s Pharmacy
2. Elizabeth Estates Clinic
3. Doctor’s Hospital
4. Flamingo Gardens Clinic
5. Fleming Street Clinic
6. South Beach Health Center
7. Exuma Primary Care Center

Here’s a list of Pharmacies Closed Today

1. McCartney’s Pharmacy
2. Smitty’s Pharmacy
3. Chappies Pharmacy
4. Sav-Mor Drugs
5. RMC Pharmacy
6. Wilmac’s Pharmacy
7. Nassau Agencies
8. Abaco Island Pharmacy
9. Lowe’s Pharmacy
10. Comprehensive Pharmacy
11. Curry’s Pharmacy
12. Walk in Clinic
13. World Wide Pharmaceuticals
14. Da Medicine Place
15. QVC Pharmacy