Associations representing workers under the Ministry of National Security yesterday described Government’s recent announcement that it would pay half of their back pay in bonds without consultation as “unacceptable”, “disrespectful” and “disenchanting”. They now want an emergency meeting with Finance Minister Colm Imbert to discuss the matter, saying inaction could lead to action from the bodies.
Officers from the Police Service Social and Welfare Association, Prisons Officers Association (POA) and Fire Services Association (FSA) made the call during a press conference at the POA headquarters, Railway Road, Arouca.
Last Friday during his mid-year review of the 2016 Budget in Parliament, Imbert said Government intended to pay 50 per cent of the outstanding arrears of salaries to public officers by the end of June.
The remaining 50 per cent, he said, would either be paid in interest-bearing government bonds by the end of September or two further instalments in cash in 2017.
Speaking yesterday, Police Service Social and Welfare Association president, Anand Ramesar, said Imbert’s announcement had triggered a joint meeting of the associations, since they had been told there would be consultation on payment of monies owed to members.
“We are not unreasonable and we are being mindful of the economy and we are sure about our previous meeting with the Ministry of Labour that there was a clear agreement that we would be consulted. This meeting is a level of disenchantment in the organisation,” he added.
Ramesar said during their negotiations the Government was made aware of their options other than bonds to resolve the pending payment issues.
“We are making it clear that you need to engage in consultations and options. Disenchantment is looming and we don't want to traumatise them (officers) again. Bonds was never negotiated and consulted,” he said. He also added that the Government should stop procrastinating when it came to compensating the families of officers slain in the line of duty.
President of the Prisons Officers Association, Ceron Richards, said consultation would now be the order of the day. He said the officers under the protective services were not consulted and the act by Government without regard for their input was disrespectful.
“We outlined our position and there was never an issue of bonds. We are not satisfied with that level of communication and this was articulated in the pubic domain. We are not in support of that,” he said. He then called for an urgent meeting with Imbert to understand the position carefully.
“We are trying to mitigate the fallout and hope good sense prevails on a collision course with the Government,” he said.
FSA president Leo Ramkissoon said his association was also given the opportunity of other alternatives.
“We know the State is fragile and we know this is more reason to have discussions. We engaged in the negotiations for 2011 to 2013 and came to an agreed position on salaries and here we are witnessing the Government changing terms and conditions,” Ramkissoon said.
“We see that as an unfortunate position and we are seeing now that they have breached the policy and discarded the policy of good negotiation, which has been thrown out the door,” he added.
Ramkissoon said the Government had now assumed the role of employer and union without consulting the association. During the meeting, the officers agreed that housing also remained a problem and their full back pay could have helped them treat with that issue. Ramkissoon suggested that housing or land could be looked at as an alternative to bonds.
Contacted on the issue yesterday, Imbert said he would be meeting with them in two weeks.