PRESS RELEASE - The National Workers Union (NWU) strongly objects to the inclusion of non-establishment, town and village councils, daily and hourly paid workers employed with government in any proposed five percent wage cut on their present salaries.
While the NWU feels that the exercise of engaging government administrators on Saint Lucia’s deficit and the economy is healthy, government must move without further delay to have the Government Negotiating Team (GNT) in place. This process is the correct machinery that will enable the parties to forward proposals for discussion and reach agreement on matters of an industrial and economic nature to cover the period June 2013 to May 2016.
The NWU is wary of individuals who keep posturing on national television as experts blowing hot and cold and without any authority, who want to instruct trade unions what to accept in difficult times. While the union is not against persons who continue to enjoy luxuries in life, should an attempt be made to erode that standard they would put up a hard fight.
NWU members employed with government are already worse off and therefore any proposed wage cut would result in family dislocation, more poverty and economic hardship.
The National Workers Union will be meeting all daily paid shop stewards next week to apprise them of the current situation.