Unions prepare nationwide protest on Wednesday

As Prime Minister Philip Davis prepares to address the nation tonight, a major showdown is brewing between the government and two of the country’s unions.

On Wednesday morning, hundreds of public sector workers are expected to take to the streets in both New Providence and Freeport in what organizers are calling the “Power to the People March.”

Led by the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) and the Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU), the march aims to pressure the Davis administration to move forward the payout of promised salary increases from December to October.

This will mark the second major demonstration in just one week. Last Wednesday, dozens of union members marched through Downtown Nassau, rallying at Rawson Square.

That protest was led by BUT President Belinda Wilson and BPSU President Kimsley Ferguson, and it signaled rising frustration among civil servants over the government’s timeline for back pay and salary adjustments.

On Monday, Prime Minister Davis met with union leaders in an effort to de-escalate the situation. However, following that meeting, Wilson issued a voice note to union members saying the unions had demanded all public servants—including teachers—receive retroactive pay dating back to September 2024, with the funds disbursed during the October 2025 pay cycle. She also stated that another meeting had been scheduled for Tuesday, October 14, at 1 p.m., to finalize the agreement.

But just hours later, the Prime Minister’s Office released a statement abruptly cancelling the follow-up meeting. In that statement, Davis accused Wilson of escalating tensions by publicly threatening a nationwide strike.

“I entered Monday’s meeting in good faith and with a clear purpose: to work collaboratively for the benefit of the Bahamian people,” said Davis. “However, following the meeting, the president of the Bahamas Union of Teachers made a public statement threatening a national strike and calling for another meeting. After careful consideration, I have decided not to proceed with that meeting.”

Instead, Davis announced he will speak directly to the Bahamian people in a national address, bypassing union leadership and signaling a hardening of the government’s position.

The government remains firm that all payments will be made before Christmas, maintaining that the December timeline is fiscally responsible and consistent with prior agreements.