The Police Service Social and Welfare Association, together with the Fire Service Association, are watching closely as the Finance Minister prepares to deliver on a campaign promise to begin wage negotiations at 10 percent. Both groups say the time has come for words to turn into action, stressing that the offer first raised by the Prime Minister while in opposition, must apply directly to protective service officers for the period 2020 to 2022.
00:00President of the Police Association, ASP Gideon Dixon, acknowledges public concern about outstanding back pay.
00:08He tells TV6 that while officers received payments for 2014 to 2019, no agreement has been signed for 2020 to 2022.
00:20He stresses that once the government grants any settlement to one body in a given period,
00:26all others are entitled to do the same through the Chief Personnel Officer.
00:31And he pointed to the 2014-2016-002 arrangement as an area where officers could still benefit from any new adjustment under the current administration.
00:42And if anything occurs for the period 2017 to 2019, we will also be going back to the CPO with a view of getting that for our membership.
00:52As it relates to 2020-2022, again, we have yet to sign.
00:59We are aware that teachers would have signed off on a 5% and were supposed to get their 5%.
01:05So if that moves from 5% to 10%, at minimal, we will be looking for the 10% that is owed to police officers.
01:20President of the Fire Services Association, Kion Gai, tells TV6 his members are also expecting nothing less than the full 10%,
01:30reminding the government that the promise was made during the election campaign and must now be honoured.
01:37I remind all that when the Prime Minister, then as opposition leader, first mentioned the offer of 10%,
01:45it was in response to the then Minister of Finance, Mr. Colm Inbert's announcement that there would be a 5% wage increase for the period 2020-2022,
01:59which is a period that the majority of unions and associations are presently negotiating for.
02:06Looking ahead, Guy says, his members are eager for talks to begin.
02:12And we look forward to negotiations to begin with the CPO as soon as possible.
02:17Certainly, the officers of the Public Services Association stood resolute
02:22and challenged the offer between the 14% to 19% period of the meagre 4% and certainly any benefits that they receive as a result of that,
02:33we welcome and we will celebrate with them.
02:37But we believe that the government's announcement is 10% is a good one
02:40and fire officers are looking forward to the start of negotiations.
02:43Finance Minister Dave Tancu has confirmed that negotiations for a proposed 10% salary increase
02:51will begin in the 2026 financial year.
02:55Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
02:58Finance Minister Dave Tancu does a allocation of a policy that says,
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