Unions and Government Representatives Meet Over Increment Freeze

Dean Flowers

Representatives from the joint unions and their counterparts from the government held another in a series of meetings today. The two sides have been trying to work out the finer details of how and when the increment freeze on public officers’ and teachers’ salaries will be lifted. And while many on the wayside might have their take on how easy those exercises could be, for the parties that are engaged, it is a timely process of discussions. There is always a balance that has to be struck between one side that sets its demands and the other side saying how much of those it can meet and in what time-frame. So upon their exit from the meeting this afternoon, we asked President of the Public Service Union, Dean Flowers specifically what strides have been made between the last meeting and this one.

Dean Flowers, President, P.S.U.

“What changed was that one, there was a commitment that increments will be unfrozen this year and, in accordance with the government’s position, I  think that we still have not agreed to the date. Our membership give us a mandate. You know that mandate. We have presented that to the government. We have not moved from that position, so Cabinet will now need to make a decision, prior to the reading of the budget on Tuesday, and get back to us before going to the House on Friday. So that’s one progress, or what we consider progress. In terms of progress where pension reform is concerned, we’re very pleased that we’ve been heard that it cannot be a one size fit all, or whatever that freeze is. The government has recognized that they need to look at the existing public officers in the system versus those new in the system. No plan, no decision, no scheme, nothing has been proposed. Those will be forthcoming as I understand from the government side. And then we’ll take those to our membership for them to look at and for them to modify, enhance, or agree to. So in my humble opinion, there was in fact progress where those two matters are concerned.”