PR – Grenada Public Workers’ Union (GPWU) extends warm wishes to all members, Public Officers, and workers for a happy, healthy, safe and prosperous 2021. As we embrace 2021, we do so with great hope and anticipation for improvement in respecting and honouring the rights of workers. We reflect on the many challenges faced in 2020, some, we will not easily overcome because we know that COVID-19 will not simply vanish tomorrow but there is hope. As we start our 2021 journey we shall be very vigilant, shall not let our guards down. GPWU will continue to seek your best interest and will do so with vigour, transparency and integrity. We recognise that our employer does not appear to be always truthful to us, and recent actions suggest that they are not as cash strapped as they want us to believe.
Members and workers please note that on Thursday, December 31st, 2020 GPWU along with Grenada Technical and Allied Workers’ Union (GTAWU) met with officials of the Government Negotiating Team (GNT) who informed GPWU and GTAWU that Government had reconsidered their proposal that requested unions to FOREGO 4% salary increases for 2021 and was now asking the unions to DEFER salary increase of 4% for 2021.
In the interest of safeguarding and securing the lawful salary increases and employment rights of members and workers, the GPWU and GTAWU informed the GNT that: –
GPWU and GTAWU will only defer wage increases of 4% for 2021 up to June 31, 2021 and it must be with 0.5% interest for each month deferred. This sum of money must be paid retroactively on July, 2021 pay day.
Docked Salaries of workers due to strike action during September to December 2017 must be repaid in full on or before January 31, 2021 to all workers so affected.
All workers who fit the definition of Section 29.5 of the Employment Act 14 of 1999 must be REGULARISED AND MADE PERMANENT (through the Public Service Commission (PSC)) by April 1, 2021.
If this agreement is not signed before January 15, 2021 workers must receive their 2021 4% salary increases with January 2021 wages and salaries. There shall be NO DEFERRAL of 2021, 4% increases.
Further, if workers are not made permanent on or before April 1, 2021, deferral of 2021 increases becomes null and void and increases and retroactive pay due from January 1, 2021 becomes payable with April 2021 wages and salaries.
Members, the GPWU believes that we must protect your interest and this is especially critical as our health care members are putting their lives at risk in the heart of the COVID-19 battle. We pray that there will be provided with the necessary PPE to keep them safe. We hope no other member will fall victim to this deadly virus. GPWU will continue to work diligently to obtain agreement on our proposal put forward to Government to safeguard all our health care members and their families in this critical time.
We continue to ask all members and workers wherever they may be to please stay safe and follow all the relevant protocols. We implore our frontline members at our ports of entry, revenue offices, those directly serving the public in Ministries, Departments and Statutory Bodies to please be vigilant. We continue to call on our employer to please secure the working environment to keep our members, workers and the general public safe.
We wish everyone a successful 2021 as we continue to put God first because through him all things become possible.
Solidarity Forever, In Unity Success is Assured.
All Public Officers must be treated with respect and dignity. All Public Officers Matter. We are all VIP’s.
Sis. Rachel Roberts
PRESIDENT.
