In our last newscast on Friday night, we showed you the Union Leaders and government making "headway" in negotiations. After a six and a half hour meeting, they agreed on a salary adjustment proposal and the union leaders took that to their executives on Saturday. That joint council meeting was held in Belmopan on Saturday - and what a release calls "the overwhelming majority" of the union executives from the BNTU, the PSU and the APSSM voted in favour of the proposal. Today the PSU President Mervin Blades gave us the rundown on what's in the proposal and what's next:
Mervyn Blades, President PSU
"Majority of our executive endorses the proposal and so they have us the green light to carry that proposal now to membership. The first meeting being Wednesday in Belize City - as you know as part of the union we have to carry it to membership before we agree with anything because we don't want membership to say that we didn't consult them, so we have to take it although executive represent membership, we still carry it down to grassroots so that they know, they understand the entire thing and then if they give us the green light and say yes, then let us sign and get it going then we can do that. But before that we have to take it to them."
Marion Ali, Reporter
"Have you all as presidents or leaders of the various unions received a resignation from Mr. Castellanos? Do you know what the status is on him? Have you been informed?"
Mervyn Blades, President PSU
"We have not. In fact we are hoping to get a meeting before that meeting on Wednesday with Mr. Castellanos to find out because what we know is what you guys reported on the news."
Reporter
"Do you know if he resigned from the negotiating team or as president of the APSSM or both?"
Mervyn Blades, President PSU
"That what I am telling you, we have not spoken to him to find out the details."
Reporter
"By when do you expect of completing the meetings to inform all your membership in the different branches?"
Mervyn Blades, President PSU
"We are hoping to at least have most of the meetings covered by next week Monday - Tuesday the latest."
Reporter
"By then the public should know?"
Mervyn Blades, President PSU
"What's the finalize answer yes from the entire membership of the three unions."
Reporter
"Can you go over again what the proposal is from government now?"
Mervyn Blades, President PSU
"When the basic over view of the proposal is that whatever it will go on the revenue out turn of 2012/2013 and then whatever is the difference between 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 that will be what government will be 50/50 to the unions for the salary adjustment."
Jules Vasquez
"Assuming there is a surplus?"
Mervyn Blades, President PSU
"Assuming there is more between the two years."
Jules Vasquez
"But in the interim you all will continue to get your increments?"
Mervyn Blades, President PSU
"The proposal includes financial aid 2014/2015, 2015/2016, 2016/2017 - three years straight and the maximum that any officer can get will be 10% even if the percentage is higher per surplus."
According to the unions, the Salary Adjustment payout would commence in July 2014 retroactive to 1st April 2014.
From here, two working committees from government and the unions will be formed: one to finalize the salary adjustment agreement; the other to verify the numbers and look at revenue collection strengthening and improvement.
As Blades noted, the membership meetings start on Wednesday of this week - and most of the meetings should be finished in a week's time.
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