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.
02:48Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
Comments