JTUM: Citizens must protest acceptance of SRC report

The Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) is calling on all citizens to gather in front of WhiteHall on December 7 to protest the government’s acceptance of the recommendations of the Salaries Review Commission.

The Prime Minister accepted the recommendations on November 28, which see his salary increasing from around $59,000 to $87,847, along with pay increases for the President, Opposition Leader, cabinet and non-cabinet ministers; ordinary MPs (government and opposition); senators; the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary; THA Minority Leader, and heads and members of local government corporations.

At a post cabinet media briefing on at Whitehall, Rowley said, “The government accepts the recommendations of the SRC. To implement it will require a circular from the Minister of Finance, whenever that comes out, and the politics will start or it will end.”

Rowley said he thought the SRC had done good work in preparing it’s report.

Asked if he thought the new salary was fair, he said, “Whether it is fair or not is not the point. Those who were given the assignment to do it, they have done it, these are the recommendations and I accept it...”

Rowley said he believed TT could pay a decent emolument to its management structure to continue managing the country.

“I am not unaware of the view in some quarters that government and its appendages are a waste of time, and nobody is worth anything. I don’t subscribe to that.

“I subscribe to the fact that the country’s management structure does relatively good work, in some cases excellent work, and where they are to be compensated, I believe the compensation that is recommended by the SRC is not exorbitant for the country’s management structure.”

In a statement on November 29, JTUM said all concerned individuals should not only voice their frustrations but take action and demonstrate.

“As citizens continue to struggle to make ends meet in a country grappling with economic decline due to stringent government measures, the government’s decision to accept the SRC’s recommendations, which provide substantial pay increases and back pay for themselves while offering minimal support to those who drive the economy, clearly reflects a lack of concern for the needs and issues facing ordinary people in our nation.”

The union said the government was clearly disconnected from the population.

“The acceptance of a substantial pay increase while providing only a four per cent for six years increase for public services, civil servants, etc, and nothing for others clearly highlights their disconnect from the citizens they vowed to serve. Furthermore, this situation suggests an agenda aimed at preserving the divide they have created between the upper and lower classes, leaving little room for the revival of the middle class, which this government has effectively eliminated.”