Signed, sealed and awaiting delivery! Just after one this morning, the Public Services Association and the Chief Personnel Officer finalised the signing of the wage negotiations, ensuring a 10% increase for all public servants, however the date for the full payment of arrears appears to be uncertain. Meantime the Trinidad and Tobago National Nurses Association is hailing the PSA for setting 10% as the new minimum for negotiations. Rynessa Cutting has more.
00:00The ball is now in the finance minister's court after the PSA and the CPO signed off on the 10% wage increase for public officers.
00:09According to a release from the PSA, advance on arrares are to be paid on or before December 23rd, just in time for Christmas, as promised.
00:20New salaries and allowances will take effect in January.
00:23Notably, however, a release from the CPO says, Commander Daryl Dindial is to continue discussions with the PSA with respect to the methods and timelines for the settlement of outstanding allowances and payment of arrares of salaries.
00:41TV6 News asked Finance Minister Devendranath Tanku whether this means that a partial payment will be made to public servants in December.
00:49However, he referred us to the PSA.
00:52Calls and messages to PSA President Felicia Thomas went unanswered.
00:58Despite agreeing to terms and conditions last week, the PSA and the CPO finalized the signing of the agreement at 1 this morning, a process the CPO described as memorable.
01:09At this time, discussions continue on other terms and conditions of employment, including meal allowance, traveling, housing and transfer allowance, motor vehicle, loan, among others.
01:23Cost of living allowance has been consolidated for both periods, 2014-2016 and 2017-2019, totaling a net 15% increase for public servants.
01:36The settlement is expected to cost the state approximately $3.8 billion in back pay and an additional $420 million annually in recurrent expenditure.
01:48Meantime, the National Nurses Association is hailing the PSA for setting a fresh precedent for negotiations.
01:56The association is yet to settle negotiations for the periods 2014-2016 and 2017-2019.
02:05We wanted to see what the public services association would have gotten to inform ourselves of what the government can afford.
02:18And the government has indicated clearly and lucidly that they can afford a minimum of 10%.
02:28So we are so thankful for that and so thankful that the public services association has now set the minimum, the minimum salary increase that any union, any union would accept going forward.
02:46And with one government minister insinuating that only politically aligned groups will benefit as the PSA did, the TTNA is issuing this advisory.
02:57Because this is our money, let it not be confused that this is private funds that PSA is getting.
03:07Let it not be confused that a government can decide who and who would not benefit from state resources.
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