The Government of Grenada has once again shown that it has no regard and respect for hard-working Public Officers with the latest hiring of another political operative.
How can we truly trust our employer, the Government of Grenada when they tell our members, workers and their representative unions that there is a drastic reduction in revenue collection and there is a freeze on hiring in the Public Service.? However, less than one week after debating the bill in Parliament, they have done the complete opposite. Government has hired former Tourism Minister, Alexandra Otway-Noel, as an Advisor to Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell.
This is a slap in the face to all Public Officers, especially to our many contract workers who are awaiting Permanent Public Service Commission appointments. It is also a slap for our many Public Officers, who are retiring into poverty and especially our Pensioners who were not allowed to retire in dignity.
Grenada Public Workers’ Union is calling on our employer the Government of Grenada to honor its legal obligations to Public Officers and pay our 4% salary & wage increases. This is gross disrespect for our laws and demonstrates the dishonorable nature of our employer in failing to honor a legal right.
Members, workers, please be advised that on Tuesday, March 2ndyour union the Grenada Public Workers’ Union (GPWU) along with the Grenada Technical and Allied Workers’ Union (GTAWU) wrote to the Labor Commissioner, Mr. Cyrus Griffith to seek to achieve payment of our legally earned 4% and to secure permanent appointment of our many contracted members.
Our employer seems to be only interested in fulfilling its political agenda. Worker’s interest is not a priority to our employer but its political agenda appears to be always given center stage when we Public Officers and workers must settle for the story that Government does not have the financial resources to pay. How can we ever trust our employer? Action speaks louder than words.
It is time for our employer, the Government of Government to honor its commitment to Public Officers and stop the discrimination to Contract workers. Workers’ Rights must be respected.
Tobit: 4: 14, 15 says: “Do not keep back until next day the wages of those who work for you; pay them at once. If you serve God you will be rewarded.”
We must and shall overcome.
