By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

JOHN Pinder, head of the National Congress of Trade Unions in the Bahamas (NCTUB), says he supports the government’s proposed move to cut out the practice of “double-dipping” for all civil servants.

Noting yesterday the Christie administration’s hard-pressed financial position, Mr Pinder said abolishing the custom is not only within the government’s right, but it ensures the security of civil servant’s salaries each month.

“I think that it (removing double-dipping for everyone) will be the fair thing to do,” Mr Pinder said, “because it is not right for one group to be able to do something while everyone else is not. Everything will be balanced as well. If they are going to discontinue one they need to discontinue all.
“It’s unfortunate for those who have benefited from it for so long. I sympathise with employees as in these tough times people depend on the NIB benefits to help with their expenses when they are sick.
“The government is within their right as an employer if they wish to with draw it.
“It’s safer for the government to have money to pay salaries than for them to have to worry about salaries and paying out sick benefits.”

Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, Bahamas Electrical Workers Union (BEWU) president Stephano Green said union members have now committed themselves to working with the government in an effort to decide on the best decision. Green insisted that sick benefits were expected to be a part of those negotiations.

The pay out of NIB sick benefits at the same time as monthly salaries has remained in the spotlight since last month, but has taken centre stage while officials and the BEWU negotiate. 
However on Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said officials will seek to remove “double dipping” not only for BEC workers, but for the entire civil service. 
The move will see a precedent set as it was previously stated that around 20,000 civil servants have participated in the long standing practice.

Mr Davis said the government, as the employer by law making contributions to NIB, only a certain portion of salary should be paid.

BEC Chairman Leslie Miller issued a corporation-wide memo in October telling staff they would no longer be allowed to collect from National Insurance for certain benefits, such as sick benefit, while being paid a full salary by BEC. It was to take effect on November 1. However, the workers will still receive the benefits while negotiations continue.