by Linda Straker
- Governor General as an opposition senator after March 2018 General Election
- Former Labour Minister wants review in the way trade unions negotiate for salary increases
- Glynnis Roberts calls for remodelling of public service to service needs of new era
Former Labour Minister Glynnis Roberts wants to see a review in the way trade unions negotiate for salary increases for persons who are employed within the public sector as part of the public sector modernisation initiative.
“Public sector modernisation is a concept that has being around for decades, clearly there is an obvious need for a remodelling of the public service to ensure that it is fit to service the needs of this new era,” she said.
Roberts, following the 13 March 2018 General Election was appointed by the Governor General as an opposition senator. She said that while the government expresses the view of digitalisation as a priority, they must also consider ways to improve productivity by introducing performance pay system in our public service.
“It is counterproductive to provide increases and increments to workers across the board, this is not a culture we should continuously promote. I call on my union colleagues in this honourable house to look into this issue and change the mode of negotiations. We are no longer on the plantation, we are in the 21st century that requires alterations of the tactics,” Roberts told the House.
“I feel very strong in my belief that we should adjust to the times, a modern public service requires a change in the way we do business, this Mr President must be addressed,” she said.