No word from gov’t on public servant salary increase

Letang said the government is not interested in salary negotiations
Letang said the government is not interested in salary negotiations

The Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) is still waiting on word from the government as far as negotiation for salary increase is concerned.

General Secretary of the DPSU, Thomas Letang, told reporters on Thursday that the union has submitted its proposals to the government but has not received any response.

“What I can say for sure with regards to salaries and government’s response, we have not received any official response from government since our proposals were submitted…” Letang said.

Letang stated, however, he has been reliably informed that, “the matter is still with cabinet and cabinet has not instructed its team as to how to proceed or what its response to our submission is…”

“So that is the situation,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Letang said DPSU has been in contact with members, “because people are constantly calling us to find out what is the position.”

“The members are expressing some degree of frustration because we are almost at the end of the last financial year in the triennium, which means that by next year, 1st July, public officers salaries should be up for review,” he stated.

He noted that the DPSU is approaching the matter cautiously, although many are saying the DPSU isn’t doing anything.

“We are being very cautious, meaning that if it reaches the point where something has to be done, whatever we decide on, whatever we agree to do that we would want to be very effective and we would want to ensure that we have the full support of our members,” he said. “Our concern right now is not whether our submission is fair or unfair, what we are interested in is to commence negotiations.”

The government had initially offered a wage freeze or zero percent salary increase for the period 2012 to 2015, but this has been rejected by the DPSU.

The union is proposing a salary increase of three percent to four percent and three percent respectively for the triennium 2012/2015.

In early October Letang accused the government of “not interested” in negoatiating a salary increase for public servant.

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37 Comments

  1. turned off
    October 19, 2014

    Too much weak unions representing public servants. DAT, PSU and police………. dismantle all of them and form one union and then we will get what we want…….

  2. BELZBOB
    October 19, 2014

    Well I guess this is what it has come to. There are so many people out of work and desperate, that the people with jobs have to be grateful for their salaries, no matter how small it may be. The fear that if you say no to your boss you will be replaced with someone willing to do your work for less pay is what is happening here. What strength does a union have in this case?

  3. LABARBABAR
    October 19, 2014

    I am a civil servant and I say that we do not deserve an increase for the next 50 years as long as skerrit is in power.. because our god skerrit is more important than our pockets.

    viva skrit

    • Concerned
      October 20, 2014

      Lying through your teeth.

  4. x labourite
    October 19, 2014

    man call a strike what bull crap is that nor. the man and his familly well off and his ministers them have mucch house and big ride and poor people cannot get an increase in salary. police cannot get increase .teachers canot .fireman kia get huh.what marge that?? but he have money to give a church 500 000 dollars. he have money to build 27 million dollar statehouse. he have money to do all kia project because election coming .they have money to hold hoe much thousand dollar convention in st joseph. ehh and them wicked ……………. cannot do nothing to help poor people. all you must come out there and all u have to pay for crime against humanity.

  5. Candid Camera
    October 18, 2014

    Public Servants will only get their due increase after the man at the helm is given shock therapy. Bipolar disorder has been contagious within the cabinet. They are all wearing vat-free pampers.
    Watch all 19 when they come to court.

  6. October 18, 2014

    Make Linton pay allyou he though say he will create 5,000 jobs the money he have to pay them is hiďden somewhere

    • October 18, 2014

      They do not work for Linton.

    • LABARBABAR
      October 19, 2014

      idiot, if you live in the UK you should at least get an education or be mature in you thinking… we have enough illiterate people here already PLEASE try and make an educated or well informed comment…

      alas, nous fini bat

  7. # Dominican.#
    October 18, 2014

    For a long time growing up I used to hear my Granny saying.”DOMNICHE` SAY WASS WAYCHE`. That applied many years ago, as it applies to this present Day. The perception is we the people forget vey quickly, it appears that’s what at play with life in Dominica. IE, once I get mine too bad for the rest”! We have a way of talking and making noise and our noise is bigger than our bite, so persons do not take us seriously. And those who talk the most are the ones that when a call for action is heralded they are the first to run and hide under their beds. Letang is between a Rock and a soft ####b##ls and the mind games goes on. For some if I receive MINE” today! all the complaining stops and we go back to business as usual. Only in Dominica! Good luck.

  8. Mamizoo
    October 17, 2014

    Letang is just talk and no bite. He keep doing the same thing and expect different results. When people question his leadership skills instead of using the criticism to improve his leadership he takes the criticism personal.
    It is obvious that the government does not take Letang Seriously. I wonder why.
    Leaders should not be fearful of failure. What amazes me is that he keeps failing but refuses to acknowledge that so far his course of action leads to failure. Lately he is pushing the idea that the civil servants are too compromised and dependent on the politicians in government. I would suggest that Letang immediately start pounding the pavement even if only 10 members show up. We saw how quickly the politicians responded when a handful of Public Works workers took to the streets. What about putting advertisement out on the radio calling out the injustices imposed on the civil servants while the Government is spending money buying votes and sympathy. Use pamplets,social media etc and get the message out there. An good leader would take advantage of the politicians vulnerability at the eave of election. The last thing the politicians want is the civil servants taking the streets even if it is only 50 people out there picketing.

  9. John Paul
    October 17, 2014

    Mr. letang do You remember a man named Charles Savarin? he was asking for 100% when He was in Your seat,surely You can get something .Remember what He did in order to get what He wanted?Well You do not have to be that extreme all You have to say is”The Public Service shall not work till we get our raise or till election is called. so simple,let them cry foul,let them say You playing Politics.Then we will all stand behind You .you must get at least 5%

  10. sweet roses
    October 17, 2014

    Well, what can I say? It seems like the government believes that all can be happy sometimes on empty belly. Oh well!

    • Anonymous
      October 17, 2014

      That does not look like sweet roses to me, more like carnations.

  11. Anonymous
    October 17, 2014

    I hope is a picture on file DNO use, because at this stage mr letang should not be making any statements re negotiations sitting down

  12. October 17, 2014

    where there is a will there is always a way.I believe that public servants need a raise probably not all what the union is demanding. Every day the cost of living is rising, prices are not decreasing and it is not a case of people living above their means any more but the means of living is beyond many public servants. Maybe because it is that some may think that the money in the public purse belongs to them exclusively?

  13. Canada
    October 17, 2014

    Letang you need to be kicked out. You are not for the people.

  14. shaka zulu
    October 17, 2014

    Letang is a joke. The DLP behaves with the PSU just like the PRC behaves with people in Hong Kong fighting for democracy.
    Election coming, money is to be spent on elderly for sympathy votes and anything to make DLP look good before election. Sorry hard workers. No raise is only your government that working.

  15. Titiwi
    October 17, 2014

    Eh Letang what you want? If you strike I will get more NEP operatives to do the work for less and after I win the election to who did stake action will have to apply again for their jobs. Those who did not strike will get an increase….perhaps a little one but in any case they should be grateful I let them keep their jobs. You have to understand I’m the boss here and not you. Best wishes to you and your union. R. Skerrit P.M.

  16. Dominican for Sure
    October 17, 2014

    Man stop playing Politics and behave yourself…..there are other companies your union represent and negotiation is still open after a whole year, I am not hearing you talking about that. Don’t you think they need relief too? All you doing, you and your President( who it is alleged, is a candidate for the opposition party), just there playing Politics. Look out for ALL interest, not when it pleases you…..stupes!!!

  17. truth will be reveal
    October 17, 2014

    What about all the non-monetary benefits Civil Servants receive? Don’t you all add that up?

    • Anonymous
      October 17, 2014

      With that kind of argument you may as well say why pay them at all? They can live on their non-monetary benefits alone.

  18. USA
    October 17, 2014

    Mr. Letang, the only way your situation can change, is for this Government to be removed from office, rally your troops, encourage every member of your union to vote against this Government…….

  19. Cops @Robbers
    October 17, 2014

    There will be no increase. After election and labour win civil servants will get the decrease they deserve. They rather their party instead of their pockets. Dam fools.

  20. BogoRoy Williams
    October 17, 2014

    Go to hell, go to hell, go to hell, where do you expect me to get the money from. If you don’t want 0%, according to my granny, lie down by it. My money is to fix my business so that I can be re elected. :lol:

  21. evolved
    October 17, 2014

    You know what is amazing? The difference in tone and negotiations between the unions that represent the Govt workers and those that represent the workers in the private sector.

    You can detect from the tone of the quote a high level of partiality on the part of the union for civil servants. In other words – they is no gusto to fight hard for these workers. They should keep in mind that to date, the govt is still the largest employer. If this is so, it means that the private sector depends very heavily on the economic health of civil servants. Less disposable income means less profitability for the private sector.

    It is going to be very interesting to see how this will unfold. The Government cannot cry broke! They have been handing out large sums of funds for projects here there and everywhere.

    But then again since Dominicans seem to be sleeping and accepting of the status quo – maybe they deserve what they get – nothing really!

  22. Red
    October 17, 2014

    Where is the tax reduction that was official passed in parliament during the 2014 budget address I thought that was to off set the salary increase, so indirectly it was a salary increase. What I think you should be negotiating on is a national health insurance scheme for public servant that would be beneficial to both Government and Public Servants. Salary increase, wrong timing Sir.

    • Bee
      October 17, 2014

      Red…… you sound like a very comfortable private sector employee who already get your salary increase and still benefiting from the diaper budget. What tax reduction in what budget? Sure national health insurance is a good thing but when people cannot eat what insurance can help them?

      • Red
        October 17, 2014

        Personal income tax da!

    • Anonymous
      October 17, 2014

      If they can’t get a pay increase do you think they will get health insurance which will be more expensive than the pay raise?

  23. Red
    October 17, 2014

    Thomas Letang, where is the money coming from???? you want public servants to go back under austerity measures.

    • Bee
      October 17, 2014

      Red where is the money coming from to pay Charlie Jung, and to pay for those busloads of people Skerrit want to converge on Melville hall? Where the money coming from for all those projects that Skerrit suddenly started since he suddenly developed and urgent need to develop Dominica… But then again your name is red…

      • Red
        October 17, 2014

        Well that called campaign funds my child that is Labour Party Money Lajan, not the treasurer money, I thought you were smarter than that. Are you Public Servant, oh my you almost sound illiterate.

    • Titiwi
      October 17, 2014

      Same place the money for the Red Clinic is coming from.

    • Anonymous
      October 17, 2014

      Red, you are either simply provocative or simply an ass. Charlie Jongwas appointed by Govt. and is paid by Govt. If you know better, show us.

    • John Paul
      October 17, 2014

      The question is not where is the money coming from,Charles Savarin never asked Patrick John that question,the question is where is the money going to and the Opposition has given us an idea.Mr.Skeritt’s extensive traveling,several advisors ,Ambasadors who spend their time here on radio representing the DLP,the bin borbol that mr. astaphan admitted should not have happened and several other corrupt activities too numerous to mention

    • Mamizoo
      October 18, 2014

      You are as ignorant as they come. So Labor Party is using campaign money to bring supporters to a government function where the airport renaming will take place. Or is it that the government and tax payer money is being used to facilitate Labor Party agenda of bringing Laborites to Marigot? in your own liliputian imagination please explain.

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