DPSU officials disappointed in member turn out but ‘optimistic’ about negotiations

A section of the audience at a previous DPSU meeting

Officials of the Dominica Public Service Union have expressed disappointment with member turn-out at a meeting on Tuesday January 22, to discuss the controversial matter of salary negotiations with Government.

Negotiations between the DPSU and Government are at a stalemate with the jury still out on the DPSU’s decision regarding Government’s latest proposal to increase its initial offer of 1% to 1.5% for 2010/2011 and 2011/2012.

DPSU President, Steve Joseph, lamented the low turn-out of fewer than 100 public officers at Tuesday’s meeting and told Dominica News Online (DNO),“We have four thousand public officers out there. I wish they all could be out in full force…..I am disappointed in the turn out. The more numbers we have the greater the ability to enter this process. They need to join with and stand with the union,”

But General Secretary, Thomas Letang, said he expected a low turnout, pointing out that members were “calling in the office to express their opinions and wanted the matter settled.”

The DPSU’s latest proposal to Government, which was accepted at Tuesday’s meeting,  includes a 1% raise for 2010/2011 and 2% for 2011/2012 as well as a financial grant from Government for a health fund for DPSU members.

Joseph told DNO “the process is currently ongoing and since meeting with government, we have been able to move from 1 to 1.5% as well as an area (non salary matter) which was closed.”

That matter involves the allocation by Government of three hundred & fifty thousand dollars towards a health fund for public officers.

Letang indicated that the DPSU is sharing information with the Police Welfare Association (PWA) and both he and Joseph expressed optimism that “common sense will soon prevail” and the matter of salary negotiations will soon be settled.

“We have requested some information from government as far as their expenditure goes. We have our analysis and we will move from there…..we don’t want the matter going to arbitration since we stand to lose,” he said.

At its last meeting in December 2012, the DPSU membership had agreed that it is in their best interest to delay salary negotiations with the government to allow the completion of a classification exercise of the public service.

Steve Joseph’s final words to his members are to “rally” with the union as “numbers” are key in the matter.

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59 Comments

  1. FIGHT FOR COWARDS?
    January 24, 2013

    The hypocretes know letang alone striking, fighting, shouting dont make a difference. The Union whisper would frighten the Government if 50% of Union memebers were active. But our ignorance keep us fighting each other rather than the common enemy…….without the Union the IMF would have govt reduce salaries rather than a 1%…

  2. A
    January 24, 2013

    Sorry to say peter will pay for paul but in my opinion they dont even deserve the 1%. some of these govt workers are always late, lazy, poor customer service amoung others :-P

    • objective
      January 24, 2013

      The majority of persons in the service works or is prevented from working hard (frustrated).The programs,work plan,policie are late and or outdated. Most of the middle managers and supervisors have no visions, except for looking for or creating loopholes in the system to make extra cash busy helping themselves and their associates,instead of looking for and at the state busines. The executive branch of government must force this group of persons to be accountable for their actions.

  3. lee
    January 24, 2013

    I know things are hard in Da but the most union can get for raise for us is NY is 1-2 % we see only $20 more on our paycheck. Sometimes is not what we want is what they can afford.

  4. January 24, 2013

    GO ON STRIKE

  5. dissident
    January 23, 2013

    People want to jump on Mr Letang back even calling him UWP and that’s so shameful. The thing is if Public Officers want a 10% raise where all u? How come all u doh go to de meeting and demand ur representation.

    Come out and see to it that u get what u want. All u want a new General Secretary? Then come out and vote him out nuh. How many of us commenting here are Public Officers anyway? I am not. Just so u know.

    U want me to come out and fight for u? U can’t fight for urself? Who intimidating all u? Who preventing all u from demanding 10%.

    If de majority votes in favor of 10% then Letang will fight for it. All u so lazy all u doh even want to fight for urselves.

    PSU doh have a Red Clinic to give all u galvanize and plywood to build all u $400 000 modest home.

    Get a life and take all u 1% then all u can go Red Clinic for de other 9%

  6. willis dew
    January 23, 2013

    I AM CALLIN ON ALL CIVIL SERVANT 2 WITHDRAW FROM THE P.S.U OR STOP THE GOVENMENT FROM TAKIN YOUR MONIES TO SEND FOR MR LETANG HE’S AFRAID TO TAKE ACTION.

  7. interested
    January 23, 2013

    As for me I quit being member of any union because they dont do a shit for their members. All those union executives especially in the one of Dominica Association of Teachers sit in the government pocket. All they do is say how high when the govt ask them to jump. As of January 21st I will withdraw from the DAT and keep my $15 to pay for the 1% increase social security going to voleh from my salary hoping that I die before 65 so they wont have to give me a dime of the money that i have been contributing to SS for over 20 years.

  8. Deborah Peters
    January 23, 2013

    to public officer you are not enlightened at all.
    Is it not this radio station who hosts and support
    our programs. stop being sick, as a public officer i am ashamed of your comments. please think before you write. SHAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Mr. Letang is not the union it is the members so when we do not attend meetings as a show of support we are only harming ourselves.

  9. Doc. Love
    January 23, 2013

    Mr.Letang and the Public Servants can jump high, jump low,go by the bayside and cry, Skerrit will never give them the 3% they are requesting,simple because the Union leaders are weak and some of the Public Servants love Skerrit more then money in their pockets. Check this out,Letang said to Skerrit, one the ways Government can pay the increases is by downsizing the cabinet,it is alledged Skerrit retaliated by upgrading Bannis status to Ambassador of the V.I.,someone please tell me who is slapping who in the face.

  10. anything
    January 23, 2013

    Conclusion: DPSU members, Civil Servants have already accepted Skerritt’s claim of ‘stagnant economic situation.’ They tell themselves they do not need an increase, even in these tough economic times, putting a drain on their pockets.

    Many do not care, their Party comes first before their well-being and family. No doubt about it. They pretend not to be feeling the heat. Is Govt. that has not seriously invested in the productive sectors that would make things better.

    Meanwhile many support their politicians, those who become quickly rich by dubious means, as revealed with facts to prove. The public servants will accept anything.

    With the begging mentality institutionalized, “Beggars are no choosers.” They do not think that they have earned an increase that would at least help to pay the bills. Is it so DPSU members? Confused about your rights?

  11. sweet
    January 23, 2013

    That 1.5 percent is just a tactic from the goverment since social security increase this month . So is the same 1 percent it coming back to

  12. kingman
    January 23, 2013

    people fedup with the politics steve and letang have been playing. steve and letang should both
    be fired and go run for UWP as they have been offer to several times, we will see then how the will fair out

  13. Morihei Ueshiba
    January 23, 2013

    Letang u can never come in skerrit shoes u just jealous and using DPSU for politics, strike and see if we not arresting U!

  14. Attitude
    January 23, 2013

    The DPSU needs to stop playing politics and do the business of the people who pay them a salary every month.

    It is time Thomas Letang puts down the Union Leader coat and wear his true coat, his UWP coat.

    • mouth of the south
      January 24, 2013

      By the looks of it, i’d say is a labour coat he has. mr letang seems to be in bed, with the gov’t, that’s why there’s a back n forth with that issue

  15. psu
    January 23, 2013

    waiste of time ! Letang and Steve Joseph are a waiste of time.. !!
    :( :oops: :twisted: :cry: :mrgreen: :evil: :!:

  16. MOU
    January 23, 2013

    me first to comment as the story go up. but my comment pending still. lmao

    • psu
      January 23, 2013

      me to.. i still waiting to see my first comments

  17. AH
    January 23, 2013

    MR LETANG a person who gets a salary about $2000 with a 1% salary increase will get just about $20 more and you talking about paying $25 or more towards the health insurance. TOTAL MADNESS I say, this person would have to add to that 1% increase to meet the payment to the medical fund and still has to pay 1% more to Social Sicurity effective January 2013.

    What is there for this individual in that package. This person would turn out to be the BIGGEST LOSER.

  18. Tt
    January 23, 2013

    The union is too weak. Government playing with them so we public officers fed up with Letang just grinning with the Government. Again i say take a page out of Charlo book then we would have been 100% with you. Stupes waste my time come to meeting for what. We were full force last meeting but the union reps showed they were with Government

    • Wat I say I say
      January 23, 2013

      Letang and Steve is not the strength of the union

    • Reader
      January 24, 2013

      When less than 100 people turn out for a meeting (that is just about 2% of the membership) who can the leader take a page from Charlo. He does not have teh support of his membership … or they just down right don’t care about the negotiation.

  19. T mama
    January 23, 2013

    Boy allu people not easy, so allu not supporting allu Union?????? way papa

  20. Frank Talker
    January 23, 2013

    Steve and Thomas are two jokers. These guys have failed to provide leadership to their followers. All that hype created by Letang comes to naught; he is on the verge of accepting the Government’s offer. I guess they are looking for a way out of the mess they created now.

  21. Anonymous
    January 23, 2013

    Later for those Public Servants who don’t care a d… about themselves and their children’s future. Why should I care. Take all u blows while others ride on all u backs. SOT!!!!!!

  22. BRAIN
    January 23, 2013

    my suggestion is reward 10 percent increase to those who show up at the meetings….after all, the government would not have to much to pay, imagine if 50 people come to the meeting and the 502 get the 10 percent, compare to the 1 percent going to 20,000 civil servant. :-D :-D :-D :-D :) :) :-P :-P :-P

    • BRAIN
      January 23, 2013

      error, not 502, but 50…for the mathematical geniuses. also assuming everyone getting $1000.00

  23. objective
    January 23, 2013

    People are losing interest and faith in the union because of previous disapointments. In my opinion this none monitary benifits does not make any sence to the majority of the members, since only the supervisors and managers rip the rewards. Its time that we look for members below these ranks.

  24. Negro
    January 23, 2013

    You guys are jokers, personally I don’t want to hear anything about none salary negotiation, it does not apply to most of us who are showing up at meetings and are under paid. For the most of it is the highly paid people like the PS them who benefits from all that none salary . All so I am not interested in any found for health or baby making, I care less about that. Give me my money and I will do what I want with it. From what I am seeing, we will end up with 1% and a none salary sweetener. But I am telling you the DPSU , Nothing out of nothing is nothing, so 1% pulse my withdrawal from the union will add up some dollars. As for the government I will deal with them with the power I have on voting day. Too much majee in this country!!!

  25. Anonymous
    January 23, 2013

    So leave them with their low salaries, who cares ????????? Not me. One set that have to be victimized and fight for rights in Dominica whilst the cowards stay home ?????

  26. dissident
    January 23, 2013

    Wow
    U mean Letang is working to get benefits for them and they won’t give him their support? This is such a SHAME.
    Do they NEED representation? Apparently their Labor Party is giving dem their benefit although it has nothing to do with their job. If they have health issues their party will set them up like was done with Charles Savarin. Obviously when their children get into de public service they will not have a union to represent their interests. De lawyers will be taking all their money with no representation.
    I wish Mr Letang and de rest of de head of PSU would just give up on dem.

    Boy Parry Bellot was soo right.

    I for one will not be de one to defend them.
    Mr letang u too good for dem people.
    LET DEM GET WHAT THEY DESERVE

    • LOL
      January 23, 2013

      Sept.13,2012
      Nov.15,2012
      Nov.21,2012
      Dec.18,2012
      Dec.27,2012
      Jan.11,2013
      Jan.23,2013
      These are all dates that DNO has reported on this salary negociation and in each and every one DPSU is asking its members for support and making empty threats to the Government. After 5 months of negociation we still calling a meeting to DISCUSS?????? How long do we have to wait for the DPSU to DISCUSS?????
      DPSU said they were disappointed in the turn out..but i would like to say that i am DISSAPPOINTED in the DPSU for havent move that negotiation one bit forward in 5 MONTHS!!!!!!

      • Attitude
        January 23, 2013

        When the negotiations began, did the Union approach Gov’t with a figure, or did they go and let the Gov’t throw a 0%, 1% in the face?

        After all, if Letang had the interest of the people at heart, he would have done like the police and got with a 7% like the police.

  27. stabbed
    January 23, 2013

    this 1%is a waste of my time >why are we even talking about salary increase.This is total desrespect by governemnt to offer 1.5% to us.The police ,Nurses and crucial sections of the civil service should have a meeting to reinforce our stance of not accepting this ridiculous offer.
    Imagine this 1% increase cannot buy the following:
    a agallon of gas to put in my scooter.
    a crate of soft drink muchless a case of beer.
    a pack of wipes for my baby muchless a pack of pampers.
    A subway 6 inch and the most talked about item>a pound of Codfish.
    Should i go on?
    Come on people we deserve much more than that!
    what was the slogun?”all should eat!” i think they meant,that”some shall eat all!”
    Be considerate give a little more !

    • Reader
      January 24, 2013

      1. You don’t need gas for your scooter – Dominica small; you can walk (plus it is a great way to exercise)
      2. Forget about the crate of soft drink – too much sugar; squeeze some oranges or find something local to make juice (supports the farmers as well)
      3. Go back to washing diapers; it worked for those before
      4. Subway?? Why you cannot eat a mastif with cheese? Too much fast food makes us die faster
      5. The codfish come out stockfarm so it will get you sick.

      The only thing I cannot argue with is that it cannot buy a case a beer. That is the height of wickness and where I draw the line.

      • stabbed
        January 24, 2013

        yes reader…. i like your observationscertainly i can’t ,you may have a choice driving your suv or your sportsbike ,but i am noT privilege like you.All i need is much more than 1%,just a little more money to buy some gas .
        When was the last time you bought grapefriuts are oranges in the market? Please do the maths.besides i do not have land so i just cannot squeezing people fruits.I would like free meals but not at the state prison!
        You may have a washing machine,and you may just not have a meter on your water.Remember Dawasco!
        But kill they want to kill us ! rememeber the cost of living! everything going up our salaries still the same <Pressure, HYpertension sugar…. too much worry!
        Just maybe i already eat the stockfarm codfish ,looking for a way to cut cost ,because i hearing is 1% or 0 % we getting! Have to look for alternate means of surviving!
        You seem to be a man or woman of reason <please to talk to SKerro,times are hard!

  28. simply blessed
    January 23, 2013

    ministers get about 50% increase and we, poor, civil servant( we are no public officers) getting 1%. weh weh weh. :(

    the officials of the public service union knew their business. they are not for the civil SERVANTS interest. they were accepting the 1% all along. thanks for the 1%, we will use it to pay social security. NEXT LEVELLLLLLLLLLL

  29. Malatete
    January 23, 2013

    I am not surprised. Mr. Letang’s undecicisiveness unwittingly provides a tool for the govt. and the longer he sits on the fence the longer govt.]will hold out on salary increases. The union members could get so frustrated that they vote themselves a little de-facto increase by witholding their dues from a union that in their eyes is ineffective. I’m sure that is not mr. Letang’s aim at all, well meaning as he is. The meek do not inherit the earth Mr. Letang!

    • Stuppes
      January 23, 2013

      Yes but until the members walk away from party lines … and look at the money issues … the union will have no power!

      Its clear to see that some will eat lobster and steak but some will have only labasse codfish to eat!!!

    • Pied Piper
      January 24, 2013

      i agree…hold back the 20 dollars for 1 month, that is $80,000.00 that not going in the Union’s bank account. In fact I’m going to sign a form cancelling my deduction…because if is 1% i getting, it coming to the same thing, $20.00.

  30. Public Officer
    January 23, 2013

    When you have Matt doing sensational advertising for the DPSU, you expect enlightened officers to come to a meeting to do UWP’S dirty work for them? Let us be real.

    • awa wi
      January 23, 2013

      You have it wrong my brother we jus fed up wit letang doing labour dirty work for dem

    • Anonymous
      January 23, 2013

      What does salary increase have to do with UWP? you wanted Skeritt to do the advertisement instead? By the way his voice is in there, so what’s your point? Sick people and nation.

    • MOU
      January 23, 2013

      tan sah. Is UWP the salaries negotiating for nuh? hahahahahahahaha. boy them people there foolish we boy

  31. Caricom Traveller
    January 23, 2013

    Again i will stay that Dominicans don’t want Change!

    They expect some alien to bring a new life to Them.

    The Ignorance Factor is one the Pillars in Dominica.

    Actually this Labour Regime is the Best thing for Dominica.

    Look at Layou Citizens their Health is at risk They remain Loyal to One Man.

    The Valley Citizens who blinded by a trip within Landing on home soil sounded Praises and Dismissed Any negative or environmental and health related Concerns…it’s Heaven for them after that trip to The French Island.

    Folks need to realise that Dominicans talk too Much, call Q95 as a comfort Zone but they actually Love their PM as the Calypso says..

    So Good Luck to Linton and the Rest of the Patriots their campaign will be fruitless in the End….

    Why..Dominica is not noted for Brilliance in Thought and Progress…They are the Poorest in The Eastern Caribbean because the Accept and Embrace Less at all Levels..

    NO NEED TO WORRY DA AINT GOING NO WHERE!
    CITIZENS ARE WAY TO IGNORANT TO BRING AROUND SUCCESS!

  32. January 23, 2013

    Papa bondieur Sa qui fen Dominiquenes.

  33. two-face
    January 23, 2013

    Civil servants do not even know what they want,They behave like crooks, they love their PM more than themselves and their family. Pli tar Pli twist!! good luck! I watching

    • IPO
      January 23, 2013

      You must love the PM

      • Malgraysa
        January 23, 2013

        Oh, I did not know this was compulsory now IPO. Ignorant me, all the while I thought that only applied to the leaders of N. Korea.

  34. Hmmmm....
    January 23, 2013

    Are the proposed 1.5/ 2% increases greater than the rise in the cost of living for the relevant periods? How does the union rationalize the struggle to get a 3% increase with the fact that the salaries of parliamentarians and other executive positions were recently raised by over 30% (at a time of deeper global economic uncertainty)? What is the future of these unions in an environment where employees are afraid or unwilling to fight for adequate wage increases? What is the primary factor influencing this indifference – decline in productive sectors (agriculture/ tourism) and other traditional support structures; increases in number of members/ non-members with mortgages and other obligations; political support; weak union executive? Interesting questions…?

  35. IPO
    January 23, 2013

    The song bites of MLK being played on Q95 turned them away.

  36. posse
    January 23, 2013

    to much talk, just give the strike date and you will see who loyal to party or pocket..

    i hear social security taking 1 percent from 31 january 2013..

  37. dr a
    January 23, 2013

    typical Dominicans when to stand up for their own betterment they staying home,but complains 24-7 they cant eat ,cant pay their bills,cant send their child to school,cant pay their mortgage .

  38. Shameless
    January 23, 2013

    :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
    Just say allu going to accept government offer nuh! I knew it, I said it, and will keep saying it. Dca has too much talk and no action.

    Assertive, NOT Agressive!

  39. Whoop Whoop
    January 23, 2013

    I quite agree with the low turn out , but the members are extremely disappointed in the executive. it seems as if the matter had already been settled and they just came to inform the membership. At the first meeting the General Secretary was on a high re negotiations then the vim and vigour went away so suddenly therefore members are left to wonder what transpired during the negotiation process. Just asking

  40. mouth of the south
    January 23, 2013

    no backbone having dominicans… most of us are children of the seventies parents… didn’t we carry we on there fighting spirit?… where have our courage gone, afraid to stand with cahur to fight domlec, now afraid to stand for your own future and children future… shame shame shame…

    if this is the way you all do it… ya’ll will never get justice… out of 4000 members, less than 100 showed up smh… u want this settled??? then show up and prove, victory isn’t won by the idle hands but by the one who keeps pressing on…

  41. MOU
    January 23, 2013

    a set of mootor, they stay home, they scared police come at their home and search. a set of mootor batalee lmao

  42. January 23, 2013

    But General Secretary, Thomas Letang, said he expected a low turnout, pointing out that members were “calling in the office to express their opinions and wanted the matter settled.” News article

    Less than 100 out or 4000 turn out for the meeting, and based on the quote above, why can’t the Union understand that “public servants” have accepted the Government’s proposal–that is the reason they want the matter settled?

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