2 months ago
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Minister of State for Finance, Christopher Coye, has called out the unions for what he coins as misleading information. In an interview today, the minister told the media that the government has not told the unions that they would not honor the 8.5 percent salary increase in one lump some. He added that the government has reviewed the finances, and with that they concluded that the second offer for an initial four percent and two increments are all they can offer at this time.
Christopher Coye, Minister of State (Finance): “What the letter speaks to is a process, similar like what is proposed on the salary increase. What I think needs to be clarified is that the government agreed to the entirety of the salary increase, full 8.5%, the government fully agreed to the 8.5% salary increase just that it be introduced in a phase manner, in a way that the government or the fiscal finances can afford. So it’s not that there’s any effort to try and not reach some resolution, there is, and in largely in terms that has been requested but it can only be done in a way that we can afford. I think that’s a decision for the Cabinet and Prime Minister and ultimately we can only do what we can afford. So the finances, reviewing the finances, looking at what makes economic sense, what makes financial sense not just for today but for tomorrow and further into the future is what we have to account for before any adjustments can be made. What is clear is that we can afford what was proposed in the second proposal. We had one meeting between the Cabinet subcommittee for union consultation and the joint unions negotiating team and that meeting was very cordial. We had high exceptions coming out of that meeting. It is unfortunate that that meeting did not yield an agreement but there was every effort made in that meeting reach something that was reasonable, satisfactory and affordable.”
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