Camron Laure. Photo credit: article.wn.com.
The Police Welfare Association (PWA) plans to present a letter to the government today, June 12, asking it to organize a negotiating team to discuss its recent pay cut proposal.
The proposal, which comes as part of government’s cost cutting measures aimed at reducing a $76 million fiscal deficit, was rejected in “its entirety” by police this week. The lawmen are now calling for negotiations with the government through its representative body the PWA.
Speaking to Saint Lucia News Online (SNO) PWA President Camron Laure said a negotiating team is being put together for the PWA to negotiate for the current triennium.
“…We’re one year plus into the triennium and we believe that this is the way to go if we are to do anything. Let’s go through proper negotiations. If anything else, if we have to change the current collective agreement then proper procedure should be followed, which is give us notice in writing,” he said.
Talks of the impending wage cuts had been swirling for some time and was recently confirmed by Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony.
Just last week the PWA issued a press release asking its members to implement cost cutting measures in order to cushion the effects of budget cuts. The association had suggested that its members make some “personal adjustments” in the short to medium term to “weather the projected financial forecast brought forward by the employer.”
These measures included the ceasing of spending on non-essentials, carpooling, and the consideration of the option of the Police Credit Union rather than other financial institutions.
Among what was proposed, by the government to public sector unions on Friday, June 6, 2014 was the five percent reduction in public officers’ and Crown employees’ wages from Grades 1-21 and the introduction of a wage freeze to cover the current triennium of wage negotiations.
Nurses and teachers have also rejected government’s wage cut proposal. Teachers are suggesting the initiation of a collective bargaining agreement.
The unions representing public sector workers and other such associations are due to meet with the prime minister tomorrow June 13. It is expected that union and association representatives will convey their reactions to the proposals.
The prime minister while addressing a radio programme on Wednesday said he had not lost hope despite the public pronouncements communicated by various union leaders.