New Providence, The Bahamas: Tuesday, April 25th, 2023 | The Corporation (WSC) is pleased to have concluded and signed today an Industrial Agreement with the Bahamas Utility Services and Allied Workers Union (BUSAWU) who represents the WSC non-management staff and covers the period 1st July, 2022 to 30th June, 2025.
Our employees are our most important resource and we extend our sincere thanks to each and everyone of them from Grand Cay in the north to Inagua in the south. The last WSC – BUSAWU Industrial Agreement expired on 30th June, 2018. However, despite this long wait, our employees responded in fine form to the challenges during and post Hurricane Dorian in September 2019 and to the global COVID 19 pandemic which commenced in March 2020. While so many businesses were shuttered partially or fully during COVID 19, our employees worked day and night, seven (7) days a week, to ensure our valued customers across The Bahamas had ready access to a reliable supply of potable water and to operate and maintain our sewerage systems.
We sincerely thank BUSAWU’s President – Mr. Dwayne Woods and his team for partnering with us over the last year to improve the work environment at WSC. Our focus during the negotiations were to maintain, at all times, a harmonious industrial relations space characterized by transparency and open, honest communications between the parties.
Today’s signing is only possible thanks to the leadership and fulsome support of the Honorable Prime Minister, the Honorable Minister of Works & Utilities, the Honorable Minister of Labour & Immigration, WSC’s Executive Chairman & Board, the Financial Secretary, the Government’s Chief Labour Consultant and so many other stakeholders.
This Industrial Agreement, sets the framework for WSC’s current 386 non-management employees. Noting that the staff have not received any general increases in pay since the last agreement expired in 2018, this agreement includes for the staff to receive four (4) general increase increments over the period 2022 to 2025.
We also note the presence today of the President of the Water and Sewerage Management Union (WSMU) which represents WSC middle management staff. The last WSC – WSMU Industrial Agreement expired on 30th June, 2013 and we look forward to concluding our ongoing negotiations with them shortly and signing a new agreement for the period 2022 to 2025 in the next several weeks.
WSC Executive Chairman, Board and Executive Management thanks the leadership of both Unions and we look forward to working together as a team as we build an innovative, vibrant, dynamic WSC on the pathway of becoming a world class water and sanitation utility that meets and exceeds its customers’ expectations, is financially viable and operates in full compliance with all environmental and regulatory standards. ### About the WSC
Since 1976, The Water and Sewerage Corporation has been committed to fostering growth and excellence in service quality through the management, upkeep, distribution, and development of water resources. The Corporation has a team of over 400 dedicated employees across the nation who share a passion for delivering service excellence, which is the guiding light that drives and sustains the relationships with customers, employees, and the communities that the Corporation serves. To learn more visit wsc.com.bs or our social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, and You Tube).
Contact:
Nikolette Elden | T: 302-5742 |E: wcnelden@@wsc.com.bs