PSA: We won’t submit more reasons for our demands

UPDATE:

No, we will not be submitting any more reasons for the union’s demands. This was the response that president of the Public Services Association Watson Duke sent to the Chief Personal Officer (CPO) during a press conference yesterday.

Speaking to the media at the PSA’s headquarters on Abercromby Street, Port of Spain, Duke said the time has come when public workers must be treated with respect.
Duke said he received a letter from the CPO on Thursday morning saying the union must provide more information in writing on the demands made last week for $15,000 to be put in each public worker’s account by August 31, before a meeting could be held with the union.
He said the union has already told the CPO it was ready to negotiate, submitted all its proposals and wanted to begin discussions.

“The CPO responded by saying she wished to remind us that a timing submission for information requested is pertinent to the departments in order to facilitate meaningful discussion.
“In other words, the CPO is saying to us that we must give her all the reasons why we are asking for what we are asking in writing in order to facilitate meaningful discussion.
“We wrote to the CPO and told her no and, we are not giving any reasons via letter. When we get around the table we will advance those reasons. That is the whole purpose of face-to-face negotiations.”

Duke said as with all negotiations, the Industrial Relations Act says the parties should meet and treat in good faith.
He said the CPO has to understand 80,000 workers will not be waiting, and further advised the Minister of Finance that workers will be expecting the $15,000 deposit in their accounts by the middle of August.

“That is an advance payment on the hundreds of thousands owed to them for the years 2014 to 2018.
“Notwithstanding they have said the sky is blue and things are improving, we also want to offer him an escape. If they cannot find the cash they can speak with the PSA.
Duke said the union was willing to consider alternatives such as stakes in the National Investments Fund, or special treatment in having advance payment on rent to own land or houses, or houses and land.

The Minister of Finance must be prepared to respond by the end of August, he insisted.
“Give workers some type of food card with a certain amount of money when the month comes to ease the burden for the next few months. That can also be reasonable.
“But do not ask us, madam CPO, in this kind of bold-faced and aggressive way that we must give you all our reasons before we could meet.

“You have a duty by law to meet and treat. We are not giving you the whole month: the second to last Friday in the month. If we do not meet by then or do not give a fixed date, expect the workers to respond in a very strong way.”

He said the CPO and the Minister of Finance will be responsible for what takes place at the end of August if money is not put in workers’ accounts.

ORIGINAL STORY:

"No! We will not be submitting any more reasons for the union demand" was the response president of the Public Services Association Watson Duke sent to the Chief Personal Officer (CPO) during a press conference today.

Speaking at the press conference at PSA’s headquarters on Abercromby Street, Port of Spain, Duke said the time has come where public workers must be treated with respect.

Duke said he received a letter from the CPO this morning indicating that the union must provide more information in writing on the demands made last week. Demands included $15,000 being sent to each public worker's accounts by August 31, before a meeting could be held with the union.

He said the union has already told the CPO they were ready to negotiate, submitted all their proposals and wanted to begin discussions.

“The CPO responded by saying she wish to remind us that a timing submission for information requested is pertinent to the departments in order to facilitate meaningful discussion. In other words the CPO is saying to us that we must give her all the reasons why we are asking for what we are asking in writing in order to facilitate meaningful discussion," said Duke.