Prime Minister, Dr. the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell, is hoping that the Government will soon be able to resolve the dispute relating to the 4% salary increase, due to public officers for 2021.
On this score, he held a meeting last week with education officials.
REPORT:
The Prime Minister says finding a solution is critical and he’s not worried about the political fallout from this dispute, but worried about the education of the nation’s children and the future of the country.
He gives the assurance that the Government is moving speedily to bring about a resolution, since he does not want schools to reopen in September with the situation still unresolved because, as he puts it, “No one will benefit.”
Given the significant impact of COVID-19 on the country’s revenue earnings, the Government requested a deferral of the 4% increase payment, adding approximately 13.2 million EC dollars to its annual wage bill.
Unions, however, did not agree, and continued demanding that the increase be paid within the time-frame of the collective agreement, with the Grenada Union of Teachers, in particular, making heavy weather over the issue, waging various forms of industrial action, impacting on students.
The Prime Minister informed the education officials that the country’s revenue has declined dramatically, but, however, they’re now seeing an uptick, and although, not yet anywhere near 2019 levels, there’s hope that soon they’ll be able to resolve the matter.
The Government has never disputed the fact it has an obligation to pay the 4% increase, Dr. Mitchell said, and, now based on the increase in revenue collection, and, according to him, in his words, “I think we are getting to the point where we would soon find some methodology to solving this dispute.”
The Prime Minister, looking at the education system, noting the part it played in his life, and now leading a Nation, said “he will not stand by and see the education system crumble and the children of the nation suffer. A solution is absolutely necessary going forward.”The parties to the dispute, the Government’s Negotiating Team and the public sector trade unions representing public officers, are said to be in various stages of mediation, provided for, in the settlement of industrial disputes, under the Labour Code.
Since it began, there’s been a mode of secrecy with little information being divulged as to the progress of the talks.
