General Secretary of the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU), Thomas Letang, has said that members of his organization have not ruled out industrial action as the row between the union and government continues over salary increases.
At a press conference on Tuesday, he also sought to dispel all allegations that the union has accepted the government’s 1 percent salary increase offered to public officers.
“We are not at this moment ruling out industrial action … the only reason why we have not embarked on industrial action is because we have thought of these poor people who are getting their barrels and boxes from overseas and we have taken these people’s plight into consideration,” Letang said.
According to Letang the DPSU is prepared for what he described as a ‘long battle.’ “We recognise that this is going to be a long battle for us and as an executive we are prepared for that long battle,” he pointed out.
Letang stated that industrial action is the union’s last resort if their demands are not met and will be their way of demonstrating their dissatisfaction.
The general secretary also dismissed claims that the union has accepted the government’s 1 percent offer for the second year.
“The union is not prepared to accept 1 percent for year two or year and three. We have been studying the state of the economy and we are very much aware that there has been conflicting information which we have been receiving. On one hand we hear that the economy is doing very well but when we get to the negotiating table we are presented with a different picture,” he declared.
He continued, “In our letter dated November 13th, 2012 we made it absolutely clear to the government the DPSU wishes to reiterate its refusal of government’s latest offer of 1 percent and 1 percent for the year 2010-2011 and 2011-2012.”
Letang described the 1 percent salary increase offer as “unfair since it will be taken by social security and not be seen by public officers.”
Members of the DPSU will meet with the government on Friday and according to Letang, although the government invited them to the meeting to confirm the increase of 1 percent, the DPSU will be continuing negotiations until its demands are met.
I Ready! Sakway toneh!
and furthermore, give me back my vote.PAY UP PAY UP,SACKWETONNERRE
It is time to tell the gov’t GO TO HELL with this 1%
Mr. letang the eyes have it u are afraid. we run this flipping country, if we close it up, the ministers cannot function, what is the problem with you sir, i hope u not accepting undercover deals like the lady, while we in dpsu, she was making agreement to satisfy her own selfish gains. mr. letang , u making me ashame. you loose the fortitude. we calling on you to resign now, bullshit. WE WANT OUR MONEY, YOUR NEGOTIATING SKILLS AND THE OTHER BIG HEAD MAN IS NOT GOOD, I SUSPECT HIM U KNOW, PLAYING POLITICS, ALWAYS QUIK TO TELL PEOPLE WHICH WAY TO GO.THE PRESIDENT, WHERE ALL YOU GET HIM FROM, I HAVE A MIND IS HE THAT INFLUENCING YOU and your barrel story, rubbish, that is when u should push, so when u calling meeting—rubbish letang.
Our leaders here are not reliable. The leader of this country, the opposition leader and the PSU leader, should be kept at the Grotto house for observation.
Shhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!. Action speaks louder than words. Unions demonstrate strength and solidarity of membership by taking tough unapologetic positions and decisions when all good faith negotiations have failed. Beyond that point, the speeches and press conferences are of no use. Learn how to do that from the master Charlo himself.
Respecfully
Roseau Valley
Mr is doh ready yet,to much talk.
Why are Dominicans so backward…it baffles me…
DPSU keep pressing on! Don’t settle for Less…
Their Regime are like leaches sucking the blood out Of them yet they remain silent..
Classical island Called Fools Paradise..Headlines
Dominica!
I beg to nominate Peeping Tom for general secretary of the DPSU.Peeping Tom know the back door , side door and secrete door to the Red Clinic chamber and so he might be able to steal a few dollars from the red clinic.
What percentage did the Ministers take? 50%/60%.plus $1000 a month bonus for health care.
At least you must demand the repayment of the 15% VAT that you are required to pay for goods and servicers.
Hats off to DPSU…
Key they must stand FIRM!!
Please weed out the weak Hearts if any in the DPSU!
Change must come with clear and militant direction.
The Western World is Hoping the DPSU will effect Change in the Most Corrupt Caribbean island Dominica.
DPSU says industrial action is still on the table?!! Was it ever on the table? Well, is either DSPU lying or Christmas tablecloth hidding it.
mr letang so while the scrub 1percent cannot get me a barrel i living business running for people to get barrel. Public officers not getting squart all. no harm, not duty free not funds for education nothing. if you no a sexy young girl that giving lap dance in the ministers office nothing for you. is time we are respected we need to be able to feed our family and stop begging domlec to keep our light on and when we lift our phone it disconnected enough is enough. one ministers working half day on full pay rubbish
Well i am a public officer and i have no strike striking tell my colleagues WELCOME TO THE NEXT LEVEL. Tell them visit the stadium, visit the state house, visit the state college and drive on the west coast road. drive all down possi go Cottage watch Reggie Project then go around and watch the PM house. When they come back up to their homes put the developments on the table to feed their children, then take the same development to the schools to pay the fees.
well is dem aself eh, they get the governance they put their and permit…
well we still hearing LABOUR POWAHHH so they LIKE IT!!
E DOU CON SEWO MIEL!
Enought is enought,dont let your Union be the weakest Union in the English speaking Caribbean.You back down now,you will never again be respected by any Government in the future. Charles Saverin has left a legacy as one of the most powerful union leaders in the caribbean in his time,I hope you will also leave a legacy of your own.Skerrit should never forget you, as John has never forgoten Saverin.Dominicans and the rest of the Trade Union world is watching you,Sir.
I am the working poor. I live from one month to the next. cannot afford a darn thing.
At least you have computer and Internet to be stupid
my i percent will be $14.00.
Mine will be $16.35
Mr. latang, the indusctrial actions should have already been taken , You have been saying you going to take these actions for the past 5 years and still nothing has happened. WE are now taking you for a big joke.
Chicken, puck, puck, puck, puck, puck, chicken…… puck puck puck puck puck,
puck KAAWWWKKKK! LMAO!!
Kooky yo ko, kooky yo ko.
Barrels and boxes. What a joke. Man time for action is now.This is the only economy that was not hit by the Global Financial Crisis.
Ask the leader of Dominica Tony or Skerrit!
i am not striking for those lazy civil servants to get what i get
who ask you, even though we strike you cannot get our jobs, so shut yur cabesa
” the only reason why we have not embarked on industrial action is because we have thought of these poor people who are getting their barrels and boxes from overseas and we have taken these people’s plight into consideration”
This is a lame excuse and shows lack of testicular fortitude.
Yeah right – they have already made some back room deal with the govt – watch and see….
Tell me about it! This part “although the government invited them to the meeting to confirm the increase of 1 percent, the DPSU will be continuing negotiations until its demands are met” sounds a bit weird! hmmmm
Mr. letang, stop, begging, we are beggars now all little children know, 1%, is 1cents on every dollars so for me my increase is $26.00,ah ah!!!!!!!!!!doh do us that, vengeance. let us react even if we have to loose our money, let us revolt, let us go down in history
Letang you got to be kidding. Leant they called election 6 days before Xmas so that they could fly in illegal voters to make it look like the people came home for Xmas. Charles shut down the country for 41 days. As a leader you lead with your head not your heart.
So what am i going to do for the new year steal, like the others, that is the new trade in town.Steal or go to the red clinic.i will not steal, Mr. Hon.Sir, pay up, we fed up.and we do not want to red up in the clinic.
That is the spirit of the people of valley that I know. Certainly the people of the valley must ensure that we have honest, transparent and corruption free represenation the next time around.
Respectfully
Roseau vallay
Mr. Letang, but as though i find, you are not aggressive as before, what is daunting your action, you afraid of spiderman, if u push us , we will roar, you are holding us back we are prepared to roar, bright daylight.
Thomas Latang you must be joking. please call the people you represent to stop rubbing the goverment and do there work. so what you want, to be rewarded for playing whole day on a PC or staying on the phone talking crap. stop playing politics with people life.
Mr. lETANG IF IT HAVE ONE TIME I DO NOT AGREE WITH YOU IS THIS TIME, AND I quote,”you are considering the poor people of this land who have to get their barrel, but that is when u have to move on the government to press them to yield to our demand–nonesense Mr. letang. we public servants have to move on our word—-when!!when!!!!!!!!!i need my money.let who want to play politics, play politics, but this is bread and butter issue, i need my money.
We hear you Wotten Waven. We feel your pain. We hear you loud and clear.
Respectfully
Roseau valley
I am holding my breath but Letang and the DPSU have disappointed me so many times that it is hard to take them serious at this point. Too much talking with no real assertive actions.
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
nobody is sympathetic to our cause so why shud we be to anybody?????????? just put your tail between ure legs and acept the one percent,cuz in essence thats what u doing…
The DPSU is a toothless tiger! People are laughing at you.
Man stop talking and act man!.Already it is so shamefuland insulting, a disgrace to be talking about 1% salary increase when government ministers are living like monarchs.We were told the economy is so bouyant that many Dominicans are sending money to relatives over in America and Europe.This was the sentiment ot the supremo, the same one who insults his people Go to Hell Go to Hell Go to Hell… Time for action man.
I do not want 1%.