Agreements address longstanding physician compensation concerns and establish new employment terms for public works personnel
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — Governor Albert Bryan Jr. has signed two labor agreements covering public health physicians at the Virgin Islands Department of Health and union-represented employees of the Department of Public Works (DPW), advancing the Bryan-Roach Administration’s efforts to address longstanding compensation disparities, strengthen employee recruitment and retention, and improve the delivery of essential government services.
The agreements include a tentative five-year wage agreement with the Seafarers International Union representing Department of Health physicians and a three-year collective bargaining agreement with Our Virgin Islands Labor Union (OVILU) representing employees of the Department of Public Works.
The agreement for public health physicians, signed Oct. 21, 2026, addresses compensation concerns that have persisted for more than two decades. The bargaining unit had not negotiated a new wage agreement since 2005, leaving physician salaries uncompetitive and, in some cases, lower than those of nurses under their supervision.
The tentative agreement, covering Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2031, establishes negotiated salaries and other economic terms intended to improve the Territory’s ability to recruit and retain qualified physicians who provide full-time public health services, particularly for vulnerable and underserved residents.
“These physicians have dedicated their careers to caring for some of the most vulnerable people in our community, yet their compensation has not kept pace with the responsibilities they carry,” Governor Bryan said. “We cannot expect to attract and retain qualified doctors if we are not prepared to pay them fairly. After more than 20 years without a new negotiated wage agreement, we are taking an important step toward correcting that disparity and strengthening our public health system.”
The physician wage agreement remains tentative pending completion of the remaining provisions of the collective bargaining agreement. Once those provisions are finalized and the complete agreement is signed by the Governor, the negotiated wage terms will become part of the final contract.
The agreement with OVILU, signed Aug. 26, 2026, covers Department of Public Works employees from Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2029.
The bargaining unit includes cashiers, accountants, plumbers and other personnel who support road improvement projects, government facility maintenance, cemetery upkeep and daily departmental operations throughout the Territory.
Governor Bryan said both agreements recognize the contributions of public employees whose work directly affects the quality of life of Virgin Islanders.
“Whether it’s a physician caring for a patient, a plumber maintaining a government facility or a public works employee helping keep our roads safe, these are the people who keep our government functioning,” Governor Bryan said. “Their work matters, and they deserve wages and working conditions that reflect the value of their service. We have made it a priority to negotiate fair agreements that respect our employees, support their families and strengthen the services our people depend on.”
The two agreements build on a broader record of labor negotiations under the Bryan-Roach Administration, including:
- Teachers and educational support personnel: A 2024 agreement with the American Federation of Teachers provided teachers with a 4% salary increase in the first year and an additional 3% in the second, raising starting salaries for teachers with bachelor’s degrees to approximately $52,500.
- United Steelworkers: A 2022 agreement covering more than 500 employees across 15 government agencies addressed compensation under contracts that had remained unresolved for nine years.
- Correctional officers and other public employees: Agreements with the Seafarers International Union and other labor organizations addressed compensation and working conditions for correctional officers and government personnel.
- Police officers: A September 2026 agreement with the Police Benevolent Association established starting salaries of $50,000 for police officers and $45,000 for police cadets.
Beyond collective bargaining, the administration has also directed more than $66 million toward longstanding retroactive wage obligations owed to current and former government employees, addressing compensation liabilities dating back decades.
Chief Negotiator Joss N. Springette and the Office of Collective Bargaining have worked with union representatives and government agencies to advance these negotiations, balancing the need for fair employee compensation with the Territory’s financial responsibilities.
“Government cannot deliver the services our people expect without the men and women who show up every day to do the work,” Governor Bryan said. “When we negotiate in good faith, honor our obligations and make sure our employees are treated fairly, we strengthen government from the inside out. That is what these agreements are about, and that is the work we intend to continue.”
The Department of Public Works collective bargaining agreement remains in effect through Sept. 30, 2029. Negotiations will continue to finalize the complete agreement for Department of Health physicians, with the tentative wage terms covering the period through Sept. 30, 2031.
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