Senior Reporter
otto.carrington@guardian.co.tt
A faction within the Public Services Association (PSA) is pressuring its president Leroy Baptiste to accept the Government’s four per cent wage offer.
Yesterday, members, including some from the union’s general council, staged a protest outside the PSA head office in Port-of-Spain.
Over 20 PSA members gathered were in favour of settling for the Government’s offer.
Last month, Baptiste agreed to seek advice from Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes for a judicial review of the Special Tribunal’s decision to impose a ten-year settlement on the PSA.
In a media release, the union leader stated that the decision to challenge the ruling came after a general council vote.
However, opposing the union leader’s decision, former PSA general secretary Oral Saunders stated, “During the special general council meeting on June 22, myself and comrade Jude participated virtually.
The mood of the meeting and the direction of the conversation indicated that the members believed the PSA’s negotiating position had been compromised.
“Other unions have accepted the four per cent wage offer and, to make matters worse, President Leroy Baptiste was adamant about seeking a judicial review.”
Saunders said members have been contacting them non-stop to express their dissatisfaction with this course of action.
“They are not happy with the four per cent offer, but considering the current circumstances, they believe it is better to accept the four per cent like the other unions and continue fighting for the collective period of 2020-2022.”
Jennifer Fredericks, a General Council member, emphasised that a precedent has been set.
She said, "We cannot afford to sit idly by while the matter is brought before the High Courts, Privy Council, or Court of Appeal, leaving us with salaries from 2013. The police have accepted it, as have the Prison Officers Association, TTUTA, Amalgamated Workers Union, and Fire Services Association."
Union member Jude Davidson called for a return to in-person general council meetings.
Speaking to Guardian Media, Davidson said, "Our meetings must take place within the PSA. We should have the ability to vote accordingly and abstain if necessary. We no longer want to rely on Zoom meetings, as they can be manipulated by administrators who handle the vote."
Davidson further questioned the accountability regarding legal fees. "We have no information about the lawyers' costs and what we have paid them. When will it end? How much more can public servants endure? How much are we asking for? We have had enough. It's time to say enough is enough."
Efforts to reach Baptiste for comment on this matter were unsuccessful.