President of the Public Services Association Watson Duke intends to lead a “hunger march” next year in an effort to bring pressure on the Government to pay public servants their back pay.
Duke said he had received information that none of the monies owed will be paid before March 2016. The march is scheduled for next January 11.
He said some 80,000 public servants have been hoodwinked and the State had failed in its responsibility towards them which would result in the workers not receiving their just due.
Duke said if the Government wanted war it would get war, but if it wanted peace then it must meet with the union and have an honest discussion which included the payment of arrears in a timely manner.
He said he was not concerned about the state of the economy or falling oil prices, only that his members were paid what they were owed.
Earlier this month, Finance Minister Colm Imbert said the government did not have any funds to pay public servants their back pay and intended to borrow the money next year to meet the demands.
Speaking at a press conference at his office at Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday, Duke said what was of paramount importance was his members having the arrears owed to them paid if and when the country fell apart.
He said: “The PSA has no regard for falling oil prices. We have no regard for the state of the economy. If the country mashes up, let it mash up with our hard earned money in our pockets.
“That is what we are working for when disaster strike we must have money in our pockets to defend against the things that disaster brings on.
“We don't want to be in a position where we will be lining up by social services begging for help should the country mash up. All we asking for is what is fair and what is owed to us.
“Too many public servants are on the brink of poverty having to worry about school fees and other expenses. We want no bonds, we don’t care where they get the money from, they wanted the ‘wuk’ let them do the work. We want we money as soon as possible,” Duke added.
Asked whether he thought the statement to be selfish and may cause the public to turn against him, Duke instead described Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley as a selfish man.
He added: “Selfish is when a man gets in power runs abroad and buy paintings for $3 million; selfish is when a man is looking to buy puppies to the tune of $10,000.
“Selfishness is when the country burning down you as a member of government jets off to where the sun is hot to play a season of golf and then put it on your Facebook.
“Nothing could be more distasteful and selfish than that. Telling the country to buy local, cool the taste buds and love your children while they live it up and we must be giving it up.”
Duke said yesterday’s conference was specifically to address the arrears owed to members of the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC), the Regional Health Authorities (RHA) and the Civil Aviation workers.
He said no arrears have been paid for all three entities. However, RHA and PTSC workers have received a 14 per cent wage increase. Duke said since the new Government was voted in on September 7, the union had written to Finance Minister Colm Imbert six times and have written to Rowley and Public Administration Minister, Randall Mitchell, and had not received favourable responses.