Public servants rejoiced with cheers and hugs yesterday, after the Public Service Association (PSA) settled with the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) for a 14 per cent salary increase for the years 2011 to 2013.The increase was spread out across the three years, with four per cent in 2011 and 2012 and six per cent in 2013. The last time the PSA settled wage negotiations with the CPO was in 2011 for five per cent.
Speaking after the agreement, PSA president Watson Duke, who had been offered between six per cent and 13 per cent, said all but a few allowances had been increased by 15 per cent."There were some things we had to struggle a little longer to get. The allowances were at about 12 per cent this morning and we had to struggle to get that increased."We thank the CPO for demonstrating a human side, we are very glad for that. It is much more than public servants have ever gotten," Duke said.
He said they had sought a nine per cent increase for 2011, ten per cent for 2012 and six per cent for 2013, a total increase of 25 per cent, and negotiations had started with the submission of a proposal to pay public servants at market rates.Duke entered the CPO's office at around 10 am yesterday and completed the agreement around 3 pm. As he exited the building, the group of public servants who had gathered to show support cheered loudly.
"I can say to you today that we have been under some pressure inside. Even last Monday we had a meeting and some people asked us to sign for 13 per cent," he said."I listened to everyone but I also listened to those who said fight on and in the spirit of that we pushed and we pushed and we pushed and we are able to now settle at a 14 per cent."It is the highest offer that has ever been given to any public servant in the public sector within T&T, the highest. Others have gotten nine, some have gotten 12 but we have gotten 14."
He said the State recognised that public servants needed to be paid at market rates but that it had to be done incrementally.
Teachers got 14% too
Last year, the T&T Unified Teachers Association also settled for 14 per cent for the period October 2011 to September 2014.Teachers also received new Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) for each of the three years as follows: $160 per month for 2011-2012, $175 per month for 2012-2013 and $225 for 2013-2014.The CPO is still in negotiations with the police, prisons and fire services.Members of these services have withheld their services for the past three days as a sign of dissatisfaction with wage negotiations.
