Every union negotiating for better wages for public sector workers will now expect nothing less than a nine per cent salary increase. This was declared yesterday by James Lambert, president of the National Union of Government & Federated Workers (NUGFW). Lambert made the comment when asked his response to the resolution of the wage impasse between the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) and the Government yesterday.
OWTU president general Ancel Roget had threatened to engage in 90 days of war, starting tomorrow, in protest of the government's refusal to offer Petrotrin workers increased wages. However, in a surprising turn of events, news broke that the OWTU and the Government had settled for a nine per cent wage increase for Petrotrin workers. The strike was called off.
Lambert said in a telephone interview he was elated. He also congratulated Roget for the manner in which he stood his ground. "I am very elated. I congratulate Roget and the OWTU executive for holding on and demonstrating that you can achieve results when you stand firm. "He got them to move the five per cent offer to nine per cent."
Lambert said as a result he was now very optimistic about negotiations for daily-rated public sector workers whom he represents. "We will be asking for the same thing," he promised. Lambert said the NUGFW had an upcoming meeting on February 24 with the Chief Personnel Officer and the Minister of Labour. "We will not be expecting anything less (than nine per cent)," he said. "Also, every public sector negotiating team will be asking for the same thing from now on."
