SVGTU-PSU Joint Press Statement
Members of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers’ Union (SVGTU) and the Public Service Union (PSU) will picket the House of Assembly on January 29th and February 4th to coincide with the presentation and debate of the Estimates and Budget on both days.
This decision comes due to the need to bring attention to a number of matters affecting public servants and teachers that have gone unresolved for quite some time. The unions’ efforts to meet with the relevant authorities to address these issues have been futile. Correspondence from the unions to the government in this regard have gone without acknowledgement.
Since January of 2017 the unions have sought, through writing, to meet with the government to discuss issues concerning:
deplorable working conditions,
appointments and promotions,
pension reform, and
salary increases.
The unions therefore note that the recent behaviour of the authorities has been marked by:
Blatant contempt and disregard by the government officials for the overtures made by the unions;
Obvious violations of the Public Service Regulations pertaining to the promotion and appointment of public officers;
Failure to effect maintenance of work sites, resulting in less than favorable and/or hazardous working conditions for occupants;
Unreasonable declaration of a miniscule increase in salaries and wages considering the prevailing economic conditions and the concomitant demands on public sectors employees; and,
Delay and seeming reluctance in addressing issues related to pension reform in consultation with the unions.
The SVGTU and the PSU deem such actions as unacceptable, as they run counter to the principles of dialogue and collective bargaining in a context of justice, fairness and transparency.
We wish to express gratitude to all those persons and organizations who support the cause of the unions. We justly demand fair and reasonable treatment of workers and their representatives in a democratic society. You are invited to join us on the picket line, outside parliament’s building, from 3:00 p.m. on January 29th and February 4th.
