Credible reports have it that the Grenada Government and the Union of Teachers have reached a settlement relative to their 4% salary increase dispute.
REPORT:
Over the past several weeks both parties were engaged in talks with Labour Minister, Peter David, on the issue and they reached an agreement last Friday.
It’s described as a comprehensive settlement to the salary increase dispute.
The issue emerged after the Government had sought a deferral in the payment of increases for 2021, which it says was due to economic conditions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, and subsequently proposed that payments would begin in August, but payment for the first seven months was still a point of contention.
A release indicated that the agreement last Friday effectively settles the matter.
Effective August 2021, public officers will begin receiving the 4% increase due. The 4% increase due to public officers was agreed upon in the 2019 Collective Agreement, for the period 2020 to 2022,
The retroactive payment, due for the period January to July 2021, will be met by a financial institution, which, according to the release, has agreed to accept the Government-issued 12-month bonds, in exchange for paying teachers, upfront in cash.
The issue of the payment of the 2021-4% salary increase for which the Government had requested a deferral brought about industrial contention by the Unions, marching and protesting for their demands, which caused disruption in the working climate.
With the agreement reached last Friday, both parties the Government and Union have expressed hope the industrial climate will be normalized
