And if anyone were to appraise the joint unions as skilled negotiators, we'd have to give them an A+.
Without striking, or demonstrations, they got the government right where they wanted them.
This evening we spoke to PSU president Dean Flowers who is in "Sint Marteen" at a conference of Conference of the Caribbean Public Officers Association:
Dean Flowers, President PSU
"Of course, it came as great news to myself as president and I'm pretty quiet sure to members. Initially they started with September, they were looking at September, then they came down to July and then we were able to explain to them that if in fact the payment of increments were resumed in July, then they would have a series of retro-payments for those officers who were to earn increments between April 1st and June 30th. It is on that backdrop that the government decided it is best for them to resume the payment of increments in April and what was made clear by the prime minister is that they are resuming the payment of increments. They are not restoring or reinstating increments that was lost at this point in time. That is expected to come at a future date."
Flowers said they are also willing to talk about pension reform but not in a conversation where it is tied to increments.
