The Bahamas Educators Managerial Union (BEMU) and the government signed their first industrial agreement together on Wednesday.

According to Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald, the day of the signing should be remembered in history for union members and the country.

Minister Fitzgerald made this comment in the House of Assembly and made mention that the agreement is the perfect demonstration of the governments concern of the wellbeing of all 400 members of the BEMU.

“This agreement is modern in preparation, scope and application,” he said.

“There is no question that we are seeking to build a stronger and more prosperous Bahamas. Unions are an integral part of the labour force in our country and today’s signing signifies the accomplishment of a process designed to assure that all stakeholders are satisfied and that the bargain agreement reflects the needs of its members.”

The minister of education said the agreement, which he repetitively called ‘monumental’, reflects the terms and conditions of a five year agreement for managers in the education sector.

He shared not all but some of the details that the agreement consists of.

“Highlights of this industrial agreement include, but are not limited to professional development, sabbatical leave, responsibility allowance, and the introduction of onetime payment for the geographical posting of officers setting up a second home,” he said.

“Also it includes the introduction of a disturbance allowance for persons posted away from the island in which they were domicile for an excess of three months.”