“The Cabinet has approved the agreement reached by the Government Negotiating Team (GNT) and the Saint Lucia Trade Union Federation on behalf of six affiliates that are signatories to the negotiations protocol,” disclosed Press Secretary to the Prime Minister, Melissa Paul.
The negotiations were concluded for a double triennium (total six-year period) 2022 to 2025 and 2025 to 2028. The overall salary increase for the two periods is 6% and 7%, respectively. The back pay will be tax-free. The back pay will be paid in February 2025.
This disclosure comes as the Police Welfare Association has been vocal in their dissatisfaction with the terms of negotiations, taking particular issue with the six-year period of implementation.
Shortly after Prime Minister Pierre’s December 18th end of year address, PWA President, Cameron Laure, took to the airwaves to voice the Association’s official position that it would be rejecting the government’s offer. In contrast, an online petition organised by a member of the PWA was in favour of the government’s terms and urged members to compel the executive of the PWA to accept the terms.
While not speaking directly to this issue, Press Secretary Paul acknowledged that negotiations with other trade unions are still ongoing. “However, the TUF is aware that negotiations are continuing with other public sector Unions and Staff Associations and it therefore informs the GNT that its acceptance of the December 12th meeting is conditional,” she explained.
The Trade Union Federation and its six affiliates, namely the Saint Lucia Civil Service Association, the Saint Lucia Fire Service Association, the Saint Lucia Medical and Dental Association, the Saint Lucia Nurses Association, the Saint Lucia Teachers Union, and the Vieux Fort Dock and General Workers Union have agreed to the government’s terms in principle.
