DPSU to continue ‘course of action’ despite government’s response

Public officers at the DPSU “Solidarity Rally”

The Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) plans to continue its course of action aimed at getting issues affecting public officers resolved, despite government’s response to the union’s salary proposal.

DFSU General Secretary, Thomas Letang, told Dominica News Online (DNO) in a recent interview that the union’s proposals for the new triennium, 2018 to 2021 was submitted to government in December 2018 and according to him, the union wrote again in February 2019.

The government’s response came one day after the DPSU held a “Solidarity Rally” on April 11 to discuss salary negotiations and other issues affecting public officers.

“Well let me confirm that we have indeed received an acknowledgment of our proposal for salary negotiations in respect of the triennium 2019-2021,” Letang said.

He quoted the letter which states, “Please be advised that government is still in the process of reviewing the proposal vis -a- vis the current economic situation.”

The letter goes to to say that, “In light of the devastation unleashed by Hurricane Maria on September 18th 2017, comprehensive assessment and analysis have been undertaken which will inform our submission.”

It continued. “Consequently, government’s proposal for salary negotiation for the 2018/2021 triennium will be submitted immediately upon completion. We envisage that this exercise should take about 2 months.”

“You had to go all this way just to get an acknowledgement of our proposal?” Letang asked.

He made it clear that the union has decided on a course of action and the rally did not only address the non-acknowledgment of their proposals.

“The rally addressed a number of other issues in the public service as well,” he remarked. “As an executive, we have decided on a course of action and we will be embarking on that course of action.”

 Meantime, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has described public officers as hardworking and conscientious people.

He said that his government is committed to address their concerns.

 “I know the vast majority of public servants are hardworking conscientious people and of course I agree that there are issues we have to address as a country where the public service is concerned,” he said. “I have always been the first to say that public servants are not paid sufficiently. I have said so publicly; I have said so privately.”

The prime minister also acknowledged the many diligent public officers who go the extra mile to deliver to the Dominican people.

“There are wonderful nurses in the country, many wonderful teachers in this country who work on a day-to-day basis providing service to us, we have to appreciate that,” he stated.

According to him, if there are issues, “we can sit down; meet in a respectful environment and say, look Sir, these are the two issues I have; these are my recommendations of how we can fix it. I know we do not have the resources to fix all at one time, but let’s start with this one.”

“That is how we have to go about it. That is our country,” Skerrit said.

He pointed out that if the country prospers its people will benefit.

“If we go to an austerity problem as we have done in the past, we all will be subjected to it in one way or the other and notwithstanding the destruction caused by Hurricane Maria, we kept our commitment to public officers in paying them their ‘Double Bubble’, their double salary…,” he noted.

Skerrit said his government has never fallen short on paying on time.

 “Not one public servant was sent home after the Hurricane,” he said, adding that any in other country which would have been similarly impacted, people would have been sent home.

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19 Comments

  1. Lin clown
    April 17, 2019

    %,while you giving yourself a Heart Attack along with Viewsexpress The Labour Party is surveying the land for the International Airport in Wesley.The Hospital will also be in Wesley closer to the Airport.The Roseau river wall is continuing.While SKERRO working your Lazy Blue Leader is travelling.

    • Ibo France
      April 18, 2019

      If you are honest, unlike the unscrupulous regime you so vehemently support, you will readily admit that this administration has been a MONUMENTAL FAILURE! Let’s deal with facts. The economy is awfully bad, healthcare is sickening, too many roads and bridges are in a sad state of disrepair, mendicancy, vagrancy and crime mushrooming, inflation has long outstripped the stagnant, meager salaries and wages. Dominica is light years behind her OECS neighbors. It will take generations to catch up. Sports, agriculture, education, infrastructural developments are in an alarmingly pathetic state at present. Simply put, the country has been badly mismanaged for nineteen consecutive years. We have had rudderless leadership. These are the hard and incontestable facts that cannot be spun.

  2. Historian
    April 17, 2019

    Skerrit..
    ..has a lesson to learn from the Ayatollah ….
    The mastermind who strategized the exit of the Labour party leaders.LeBlanc ..PJ and OJ through strike action …..of tbe CSA
    It paid off for him as the Aystollah became Ambassador……and Minister under his Freedom Party and Minister and PRESIDENT under the Labour Party whose earlier leaders he destroyed by his clever use of the CSA .
    So Sksrritt has the master of the exploitation of the civil service he self appointed to get advise from
    …..may god bless them all …

    Leaders

  3. Karl Orndem
    April 17, 2019

    more nonsense. keep your eyes and ears open people. elections coming soon.

  4. Massacre
    April 16, 2019

    Just like they are doing in Algeria and Sudan , we will be on the march until this lazy, greedy and incompetent group of boys are kicked out of office.
    Dominica has never had it so bad. Never have we seen so many unqualified people taking care of the day to day affairs of our land.
    I am fed-up because I gave you guys a chance before and have not seen any development. I am now ready to join the PSU in its demands to get an increase in pay.
    Where is the guy from Mahaut getting all that money to even buy land and build house for these “ladies ?”

  5. Ibo France
    April 16, 2019

    Sherrit uses the public servants as mules, donkeys, horses and camels. He rides on their backs to accumulate his wealth.

  6. Ibo France
    April 16, 2019

    “I have always been the first to say that public servants are not paid sufficiently. I have said so publicly. I have said so publicly.” Ladies and gentlemen this a direct quote from the Deceiver in Chief. Sir, your words and your actions are incongruous, they just don’t match. Show me, don’t tell me. Do it, don’t mouth it. Actions speak much louder than words. Your seemingly concessionary response means nothing unless the deal is signed, sealed and delivered. You are now pretending to be reasonable as election is a stone throw away. You have handcuffed yourself to lies and deception and have reduced yourself to zero credibility. Mr. Letang, keep up the pressure, don’t relent, don’t surrender. The people asked for servant leadership, Mr. Skerrit has given them dictatorship.

  7. Patty
    April 16, 2019

    Greedy all you greedy .. doe give them nothing skerite.. let them stay so.. 10 more years for labour.. I doe care if I doe get noting from skerite … he can be currupt. .. I will still vote him doe… blue blue we doe like u .. skerite handsome.. LennOx too ugly for me to vote him

    • %
      April 16, 2019

      Stuppessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssdssssssssssssss.
      You all corrupt supporters of Skerrit must get ready for his fall .Straight on his face he is about to land and crash!!! .Sharing of money cannot save him this time . All of a sudden he is looking like a 90 year old failed leader ..
      Corrupt leadership has wizened him!!!
      Skerrit Must Go
      Skerrit Must Go
      LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now

    • Ibo France
      April 16, 2019

      After reading Patty’s uniquely disturbing comments, I’m convinced, more than ever before, that Dominica’s education system needs an extensive overhaul. This is precisely the reason the country is hopelessly stagnated under the present leadership. Corrupt politicians exploit the ignorance of their supporters. I only hope that this type of off the chart unconsciousness is not pervasive.

    • Lin clown
      April 18, 2019

      Historian,you are a lying UWP historian.It was the Labour Party supporters who abandoned PJ.It was the Labour Party supporters who voted the Freedom Party into office.Now the Labour supporters have returned to the Labour Party.That is why UWP cannot win an election.Foolish.

  8. In the middle
    April 16, 2019

    Mr. Letang we can clearly see that your action is politically motivated. First, you said you did not receive an acknowledgement to your letter and other stuff affecting the public service. Hence, the reason for your solidarity/UWP rally. Now that you’ve received a response from the government why not wait to see what their counter proposal is? No, you can’t wait because you are using your position to push your uwp agenda. History will not be on your side Mr. Letang

  9. Lin clown
    April 16, 2019

    Just remember what Thomas BALLS Letang did to Public Works.He made them do all kinds of foolishness When they were made redundant he turned his back.Ask brother Dale Laurent.Remember what advice he gave to FLOW workers.What did Thomas BALLS Letang do for workers at Dexia.Becareful when you loose your job you loose not BALLS

    • Looking
      April 16, 2019

      Letang tries, but Alas, we the rest of the populace do not care. We should all have bounded together and supported the cause of the public works employees. But instead we are jut focused on our selfishness, some because they are labour, some because they have gotten political appointments, promotions and new positions. So things good for us, to h#@$ with the rest.

      • Harvey M
        April 17, 2019

        They rather go and queue up for the red clinic and their share of the housing revolution. Beggars for true, not an ounce of self respect left in some of them!

    • Next move.
      April 17, 2019

      @lin clown.
      Ur a real clown.Brother Dake Laurent was proud and is still proud to have taken up the battle against evil and injustice towards the pwc workers and now entire public service.. And trust I know this man he would do it every time anytime he hate evil..Skerrit is an evil leader you and most Dominicans know that now just like letang and bro laurent knew it and have been saying it long ago..Lin Clown continue to clown around but God is in control ple eyes are opening. Brother Laurent eye has never been deemed. Nor his ear dull of hearing he is a man after God he is safe and secure..Ask ur corrupt leader to REPENT and so should u.

  10. Bwa-Banday
    April 16, 2019

    Let me warm Mr. Letang and his executive NOT to fall for this conn man tricks and deceitfulness. FORWARD WE GO until ALL our demands are met. You out there handing money left, right and center to anyone pretending to be red but now you talking about Maria as if is she that have your B-A-L-L-S so tight you can’t move to address national issues. Some cabal members are now super rich thanks to Maria but public servants can’t have a decent meal.

    You sir need to GO! We are going to kick your D-O-N-K-E-Y out of office and there is no turning back. Enough is enough. SOLIDARITY Forever!

  11. FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY
    April 16, 2019

    The movement action plan must continue. It must continue to form part of a systematic and peaceful non-violent campaign to achieve the PEOPLE’S objective, and involve the use of pressure as well as persuasion.

    What we need now is CIVIL RESISTANCE / NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE!!!

  12. HI FIVE
    April 16, 2019

    Skerro just playing on the emotions of you public officers…votes he want

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