Unionised public sector workers have agreed to wage increases put forward by the Government only days before the General Election.

A government spokeswoman said pay talks had begun last year, well in advance of the election call.

The Bermuda Trade Union Congress confirmed on Wednesday that an agreement had now been reached “delivering a favourable outcome for members across all relevant bargaining units”.

Audley Quallo, the BTUC’s general secretary, said that the umbrella group had provisionally approved the pay offer last week.

Members of the island’s largest unions — the Bermuda Industrial Union, the Bermuda Public Services Union and the Bermuda Union of Teachers — ratified the proposal at meetings last Friday and on Monday, the day before the island went to the polls.

The spokeswoman confirmed that those meetings were held to allow members to consider the proposed deals but that, as of last Friday, no agreements had been made.

In his statement, Mr Quallo explained that a mutually beneficial agreement had been reached “following extensive and productive negotiations with the Government Public Service Negotiations Team”.

In addition to government blue and white-collar employees and teachers, emergency service personnel, including police, firefighters and prison officers, have also negotiated new pay packages.

Mr Quallo said that negotiations had started last November after the Government offered to make public sector salaries “whole”.

The government offer was made to offset rising inflation and to compensate the sector, which had suffered “multiple wage freezes and furlough days since 2012”.

Mr Quallo added: “The Government honoured its statement in 2024 and both parties agreed to use the 2014-15 fiscal period as the baseline for assessing the financial impact on members.

“The proposed wage increases not only place our members ahead of inflation but also help offset six of the eight wage freezes they previously endured.

“After reaching a provisional agreement, the PSNT’s offer was presented to the member unions and ratified by their respective memberships.”

Mr Quallo did not provide details of the pay deals agreed by each union.

“I am sure there will be a subsequent occasion where this information may be divulged,” he said.

However, he implied that the BTUC was satisfied with the results of the negotiations.

He said: “This agreement is a testament to the tireless advocacy of our trade union executives, who worked diligently to secure fair and equitable compensation for its members.

“Their unwavering efforts in these negotiations have helped to address longstanding pay disparities while reinforcing the fundamental rights of its members.”

Mr Quallo urged the Government to take “a proactive approach” to ensure that salaries did not lag behind inflation in the future.

He said: “We look forward to working with the newly elected administration, following the General Election on 18 February 2025, to uphold the rights of workers, including fair and equitable pay, across our respective trade unions and throughout the public service.”

A government spokeswoman refuted suggestions the offer from the Government risked being construed as a sweetener to workers, given its proximity to the General Election.

She said: “This is a libellous statement/allegation.

“To be clear, since October/November 2024 the Government has been actively engaging in interest-based bargaining with all its union partners over a pay agreement that recognises that public sector pay has not kept up with the rate of inflation.

“Therefore, these negotiations commenced well before the General Election announcement.

“To provide background to ensure accuracy, in line with the recommendations of the Sage Commission, the Public Sector Negotiating Teams consist of private sector chairs and high-level technical officers, who are not members of the unions they are assigned to negotiate with.

“That said, the wages and salaries provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations is joint with all union partners.”