Talks between the Grenada Government Negotiating team and Public Service Unions without any definitive date on the payment of the much-talked-about 4% salary increase.
Last Friday, the Government’s negotiating team met with the Grenada Union of Teachers, which has been on the march for the increase.
They were reviewing the Government’s fiscal performance at the end of the first quarter of this year.
Leader of the Government Negotiating Team (GNT), Labour, Minister Oliver Joseph, spoke of the Government being committed to its promise to disburse the 4% increase, but cannot state a definitive date for payment, given the country’s weak fiscal performance, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The situation is said to have remained deadlock.
We have this dispatch from Abigail Mc Intyre of the Government Information Service (GIS).
The GUT, which was led at Friday’s meeting by immediate past President Marvin Andall, maintained its position that it expects payment to be made by the end of May, 2021, and stated that it will continue with protest action until a date is given for payment of the 4%.
Attendees at Friday’s meeting received a detailed summary of the economic performance from Mr. Mike Sylvester, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance.
During Friday’s meeting, the Ministry of Finance also made a number of recommendations that can help to cushion the effects of the global pandemic.
These include accelerating the implementation rate of the Public Sector Investment Programme to support economic recovery, containing recurrent spending and creating space to support capital expenditure.
While Government acknowledges its contractual obligation, it has requested a deferral in payment of the increase given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country’s revenue earnings.
The Labor Commissioner is expected to make a recommendation by the end of April.
