But while the PM says government has gone as far as it can with the salary adjustment – when the government wrote to the unions to say it wanted to formally close the collective bargaining negotiation on June 19th, it upset the unions. They explained what was in the letter that angered them:
Luke Palacio - President,BNTU
"The Prime Minister has written saying that those proposals will not be discussed further. They're not supported, and therefore, that is the end of the process. We do not agree because that is not how negotiations work."
Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer - Acting President, APSSM
"Stated in that letter, I know what upset me, personally was the fact that in there, the Prime Minister suggested our so-called outstanding proposal. Those proposals are very important to us and our members, so that in fact, the word. I don't know what was in his mind, when in fact that was put there, but I do know that it is subject to a number of interpretations, including a very dismissive interpretation. The 5 outstanding proposals, we were not ever given an opportunity to put forward our case. From the very beginning, when the CBA was gotten back, those had not supported, not supported. So, at no point in time, there were any meaningful and serious discussion, except with the health insurance. And, to be dismissed just like that, I think that is why we're not - we're not happy."
The union says it is consulting with its membership and joint councils of management about what it should do about that proposed June 19th signing date.
One of the outstanding proposals that it says is being pushed off the table without consideration is health insurance for public officers and teachers.
They say they just want to know that it was considered:
Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer - Acting President, APSSM
"We weren't looking for him or the negotiating team to say, 'Okay, this is what you want, we'll give it to you.' What we were expecting, at least, for the process. Let us look at it; maybe they can't afford it now, but in fact, maybe next year, we could look again at it. We can't revisit it."
Mervin Blades - President,PSU
"For you to say now, that you will not - it's not - it's unaffordable, and how can you know it's unaffordable? We have not gone through the process. They have not gotten any answer from the Ministry of Health. So, how can they know that this cannot work? What is their basis for giving me that answer, or giving us that answer?"
Jules Vasquez
"Obviously, we had very low growth in the last fiscal year, and we're looking at a contraction so far for this year. Is it a reasonable request? And second, how do you expect the tax-payer to feel when everybody is stretched to the limit, and 11,000 public officers are getting 5.5%? I'm told it's 5.5."
Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer
"We have acknowledged, and have accepted that in fact, what is the fiscal realities, and that in fact, we're prepared to assist, to ensure that - not to penalize anybody any further as far as taxation - but in fact, to see how we can collect any outstanding taxes, things that area already owed, which could meaningfully contribute to next year's salary adjustment, and the year after."
Jules Vasquez
"Isn't it enough that you all receive a non-contributory pension?"
Luke Palacio - President, BNTU
"Brother Jules, the old Jules, who always try and be controversial. Let me explain 2 things to you, my brother. One, when - it seems that you have very short-term memory. The matter of the non-contributory pension is there long before us, right. So, I don't know why you're going to try and make that an issue at this point. The non-contributory pension scheme has been there. It may be costing the Government. It is something that we need to sit down and discuss, but you can't fault people for receiving a non-contributory pension, which they had no input in that outcome."
The unions are meeting tomorrow with the financial secretary to discuss the increase to see how he arrived at the final figure – which we now know is 6%.
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