The PSA President is calling out the Chief Personnel Officer — accusing him of dragging his feet on the promised ten percent wage offer and putting public officers' Christmas back pay in jeopardy.
00:00The PSA president is calling out the chief personnel officer, accusing him of dragging his feet on the promised 10% wage offer and putting public officers' Christmas back pay in jeopardy.
00:12President of the Public Services Association, Felicia Thomas, is placing full responsibility for the absence of Christmas back pay for public officers on the chief personnel officer.
00:24Since then, the PSA wrote again, indicating that we are available and the dates we provided were last week, Tuesday to Friday.
00:33In response to that, though, we received correspondence from the CPO office inviting us to meet on the 21st of November, that is this Friday.
00:45But you would think that the invitation was an invitation to commence or recommence negotiations or for them to place that 10% offer on the table.
00:57No, it was not. It was an invitation to a presentation on the state of the economy.
01:06In her latest negotiation update post, the third so far, Thomas openly criticized the CPO, saying there's no need for another presentation and the talk should begin with the promised 10%.
01:20You are aware. I am aware of the state of the economy and I don't understand why the CPO's office is behaving as though we are now commencing negotiations.
01:36We are not now starting. We are in the middle of negotiations. As a matter of fact, in April of 2022, when we commenced negotiations, it commenced with a presentation on the state of the economy.
01:52Her comments come two weeks after Finance Minister Devindranath Tanku authorized the CPO to move ahead with the proposed 10% wage increase, a commitment made during the October budget presentation.
02:06You have an instruction that wasn't the instruction. The instruction was to place 10% on the table. And when we meet, we will be meeting to receive that offer and nothing else.
02:19All the data, all the statistics in relation to the state of the economy, that is public knowledge.
02:25We do not need you to bring us around the table to give us any presentation on the state of the economy.
02:31Thomas also issued a strong warning to CPO Dindial.
02:34Stop dilly-dallying because you saw, Mr. CPO, you received your cushy, nice increase.
02:44You remember that?
02:46You remember that you got your nice 47% increase when the Prime Minister, Keith Rowley, gave himself an increase?
02:57A 47%? You got your increase.
02:59What is the issue?
03:00She accuses him of prioritizing his own interests, benefiting from a 47% adjustment in late 2024.
03:10You are delaying. For what reason? I don't know.
03:16Maybe you have some mandates that workers are not aware of.
03:21Maybe your mandate is not to let public officers get the money by Christmas.
03:26Thomas ended by insisting that the PSA will only accept one starting point.
03:3310% and nothing else.
03:36Public officers' negotiations is of utmost importance.
03:42It is to me and it has to be of utmost importance to you.
03:46The Minister of Finance, Devendra Naft-Tanku, is weighing in on the recent public statements made by the PSA President and the Chief Personnel Officer.
03:59The Minister says while public back and forth is not unusual during negotiations, the official process must stay on track.
04:10Speaking with TV6, Minister Tanku says he has noted the recent comments and says,
04:15The CPO is the constitutionally established authority responsible for conducting negotiations with the recognized majority unions, in this case, the PSA.
04:27While acknowledging that public remarks often form part of the broader dynamics of any negotiation process,
04:35he expects that discussions will continue through the proper channels and in accordance with established procedures,
04:40in an environment of professionalism and mutual respect.
04:44Tonight we're asking you, do you believe that public servants will get their back pay before Christmas?
05:01To vote, text the answer or note is the number 766-4886 or 766-4TV6.
05:07We'll have the results for you at the end of this newscast.
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