Minister in the Ministry of Public Utilities, Clyde Elder, is being criticised as disingenuous after claiming that other unions cannot piggyback on the PSA's 10 percent wage agreement. President of the Police Association, A.S.P. Ismael Pitt, says Elder's position amounts to a betrayal of his own labour roots.
00:00Minister in the Ministry of Public Utilities, Clyde Elder, has said that unions which accepted the former government's 4% offer should not expect to benefit from the 10% increase secured by the PSA.
00:14The remark has drawn swift backlash, with several unions condemning it as unacceptable and unfair.
00:22Speaking on the morning edition today, President of the Police, Social and Welfare Association, ASP Ishmael Pitt, said the minister's position is deeply disappointing.
00:33Now, we are not just speaking about any individual. We are speaking about an individual who was part of the labour movement, he being a former secretary general of the Communication Workers' Union.
00:48And it is passing strange that, you know, now that you are wearing another cap, that your sentiments are inconsistent with your background. We see it as a betrayal of your roots.
01:02According to ASP Pitt, no union should be required to signal political allegiance in order to secure fair treatment in wage negotiations.
01:12He says, the government itself gave clear assurances during the election period that all unions would benefit from the 10% offer, and the workers are simply holding them to that commitment.
01:24This government came into office, and they offered a level of hope, and the 10% on the table, as far as we knew it, as far as they presented on the campaign trail, was for all of public sector.
01:38So to now just put it within one domain and have a former, and I'll keep harping on this point, a former head of a union coming out and making those type of statements because of his position today is really, really dreadful.
01:56The association's treasurer, Corporal Selvin Markano, had some concerns of his own.
02:01So we believe that this unfortunate statement, and I am fortunate, I hope that with the discussion doesn't really surround Mr. Elder and his internal thinking too much.
02:14I suspect it was just him speaking off the cuff, and I do not believe, I cannot believe, and I really do hope that it does not represent the sentiments of the government.
02:28Last week, Minister Elder said that an agreement that has been made and signed must stand.
02:36He added that if unions believed their members were only entitled to 4% and agreed to that, they cannot now demand 10% simply because the PSA secured it.
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