Government Says It Is Prepared To Meet With Trade Unions, Contrary To Claims Being Made By The Public Workers Union

The Government of Grenada is refuting allegations by the  Public Workers Union that it is not interested in dialogue with the representative body for  public officers.

According to a recent news report, union officials claimed that Government is refusing to  speak to the union on the subject of the 4% salary/wage increase that is due to public  officers for 2021.

However, a letter from the Government’s Negotiating Team (GNT), dated March 30, 2021, expressed Government’s desire to maintain cordial relations with all public sector unions,  including the Grenada Public Workers Union.

Further, the letter which was addressed to the PWU President, invited him and other  union representatives, to a meeting on April 7, 2021. In response to this invitation, the  GNT was verbally informed that the PWU was not ready to meet. To date, Government  has not received written correspondence from the PWU with regard to a meeting.

In addition, by way of the March 30 letter, the Government’s Negotiating Team also  advised the union that the Collective Agreement between the Government and the PWU,  for the period January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2018, remains unsigned.

The Government has already met with the Grenada Union of Teachers, in keeping with  its promise to trade unions to keep them abreast of the country’s fiscal situation, with a  view to collectively determine when it becomes feasible for the Government to pay the  4% increase.

Although Government’s revenue earnings have slightly improved, it is still significantly  below 2019 levels when the agreement was reached for the 12% increase over a three year period.

Government has consistently acknowledged its contractual obligation and its commitment  to honouring same; but it has requested a deferral in payment of the increase given the  significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country’s revenue earnings.

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