THOUSANDS OF PUBLIC SERVANTS TOOK TO THE STREETS IN PORT OF SPAIN EARLIER ON FRIDAY TO PROTEST THE 2% INCREASE IN WAGES

THE PROTESTS TOOK PLACE AT THE MEMORIAL PARK FOLLOWING A PROCESSION ALONG THE QUEENS PARK SAVANNAH.

LEO RAMKISSOON, PRESIDENT OF THE FIRE SERVICES ASSOCIATION INDICATED THAT THE ASSOCIATION IS SEEKING A 15% INCREASE FOR THE NEGOTIATING PERIOD 2014-2016 WHILE PRESIDENT OF THE PRISON OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION (POA) CERON RICHARDS SAID THE ASSOCIATION PROPOSED AN ESTIMATED 20 PERCENT FOR THE FIRST NEGOTIATING PERIOD OF 2014-2016. (VIDEO+PICS OF RAMKISSOON AND RICHARDS)

LAST WEEK SEVERAL TRADE UNIONS, REPRESENTING CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF PUBLIC WORKERS, ARE CROSSED, ANGRY HAVE THREATENED MASS PROTESTS AFTER THE CHIEF PERSONNEL OFFICER, OFFERED THEM A 2% INCREASE IN WAGES OVER AN 8-YEAR PERIOD.

THE CPO, DR. DARYL DINDIAL, AT A MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVE ASSOCIATIONS, MADE CERTAIN PROPOSALS WHICH WERE ALL REJECTED. SALARY NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE 8-YEAR PERIOD IS 0,0,0,0,1,0,0,1.

January 1^st 2014—0%; January 1^st 2015—0%; January 1^st 2016—0%; January 1^st 2017—0%; January 1^st 2018—1%; January 1^st 2019—0%; JANUARY 1^ST 2020—0%; AND JANUARY 1^ST 2021—1%

THE CPO WOULD HAVE MADE THE PROPOSALS BASED ON WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO HIM BY THE FINANCE MINISTER COLM IMBERT·   ON THURSDAY 26TH MAY, 2022, THE PRISONS AND FIRE OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION HAND-DELIVERED LETTERS TO THE CHIEF PERSONNEL OFFICER DR. DARYL DINDIAL IN WHICH THEY REJECTED HIS RECENT WAGE OFFER. THEY WANT NEGOTIATIONS TO BEGIN AT 10%.