By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

LABOUR Minister Pia Glover-Rolle said yesterday the government is working to fill vacant principal and senior administrator positions following strike action by the Bahamas Education Managerial Union (BEMU).

Mrs Glover-Rolle explained that the Ministry of Education submits shortlisted candidates to the Public Service Commission, which conducts interviews before recommendations go to the Governor General for approval. She said the ministries of education, public service, and labour have collaborated on a job fair to attract applicants and are working to expedite placements, particularly on the Family Islands.

The minister also highlighted progress on government-wide promotions, noting that thousands of overdue promotions—some dating back more than 20 years—are being processed. A service-wide promotion exercise, usually conducted every two years, is underway to update the public service system.

Last weeks BEMU strike involved about 490 principals and senior administrators and followed unresolved disputes over allowances, promotions, and transfers. Several schools remain without principals, including EP Roberts, Columbus Primary, Uriah McPhee, Claridge Primary, and multiple Family Island schools such as Harbour Island All Age, Spanish Wells All Age, Central Eleuthera High, and Exuma’s only high school.

BEMU president Mr Stephen McPhee criticised the ministry’s practice of appointing “teacher principals” in smaller schools, saying it denies teachers proper benefits and authority.

On Monday, members of the Bahamas Union of Auxiliary Professionals in Education (BUAPE) staged a protest against the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI), accusing the institution of blocking permanent appointments for long-serving employees, some of whom have been on contracts for up to 15 years. The union argued that under the industrial agreement, employees who satisfactorily complete a maximum one-year probationary period should be made permanent and pensionable, but the institution continues to offer contract extensions.

Also on Monday, the University of The Bahamas (UB) and the Union of Tertiary Educators of The Bahamas (UTEB) resolved outstanding disputes over faculty credential alignment and course assignments after union members staged a demonstration outside the campus. In a joint statement, both sides confirmed that formal letters are being issued to affected faculty, and a schedule of course overloads has been agreed for those teaching additional courses. UTEB had accused UB of failing to act on previous commitments to faculty.

However, Ms Glover-Rolle dismissed concerns over labour relations, saying unions have access to ministers and the right to protest, while the government continues to mediate disputes through the Labour Relations Unit.

She said: “I’m absolutely not concerned about the state of labour relations in the country, because all of the unions in the country have access to all of the ministers in the country.

“Dialogue continues. Unions have a right to associate. They have freedom to protest, as they did, and if that is the mechanism that they want to use to ensure that their voice is heard, that’s their constitutional right. We can’t stop them. However, I’m privy to all of the issues that have occurred. Our labour relations unit is privy to the issues, and we’re doing all we can, as usual, to step in and mediate where necessary whatever.”