• Latest
PM Mitchell says accepting unions demands will financially cripple the country

PM Mitchell says accepting unions demands will financially cripple the country

4 years ago
Tropical Weather Outlook: Sunday, 14 August 2022 (2 pm)

Tropical Weather Outlook: Sunday, 14 August 2022 (2 pm)

2 hours ago
Breaking News: Charged For “Causing Death by Dangerous Driving”

Captain and crew of Harbour Master to appear in court Monday

7 hours ago
Honouring Margaret Roberts Steele

Honouring Margaret Roberts Steele

7 hours ago
Party boat crew members detained following assault of sportsman Anderson Peters

Harbour Master captain claims Grenadian champ was aggressor

8 hours ago
Tropical Weather Outlook: Sunday, 14 August 2022 (8 am)

Tropical Weather Outlook: Sunday, 14 August 2022 (8 am)

8 hours ago
Claims of coronavirus at SGU designed to create fear and panic

Covid-19 update: Grenada Dashboard 12 August 2022

1 day ago
Tropical Weather Outlook: Saturday, 13 August 2022 (8 am)

Tropical Weather Outlook: Saturday, 13 August 2022 (8 am)

1 day ago
Party boat crew members detained following assault of sportsman Anderson Peters

Harbour Master arrested as part of civil proceedings

2 days ago
Tanteen Road Closes At Noon

Road Closure: Carenage Public Road

2 days ago
Tropical Weather Outlook: Friday, 12 August 2022 (2 pm)

Tropical Weather Outlook: Friday, 12 August 2022 (2 pm)

2 days ago
RGPF

Hermitage man fined for tampering with clamp

2 days ago
CEO at MNIB resigns 

CEO at MNIB resigns 

2 days ago
NOW Grenada
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
NOW Grenada
No Result
View All Result

PM Mitchell says accepting unions demands will financially cripple the country

This story was posted 4 years ago
21 November 2018
in Business, General News
2 min. read
Senior public officers at the 2019 budget presentation
Share

by Linda Straker

  • Government committed to pension package in accordance with 2015 Fiscal Responsibility law
  • Unions demand government stick to a 1958 law which provides for 25%
  • Unions should have a strike fund in place

The government said on Wednesday that it is committed to working with public sector unions to come up with a pension package, but the package will only be done in accordance with the rules of the 2015 Fiscal Responsibility law.

“We remain committed to offering the best possible package to workers within the context of the Fiscal Responsibility Law, Mr Speaker, acceding to the unions’ demands of 25% advance will cripple the country financially,” said Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell while presenting the 2019 Budget.

“It is simply not feasible given our current project revenue stream to meet these demands and furthermore to sustain them over the long term,” he told the House which comprises of present and former members, diplomats and other invited guests.

Explaining that regional and international organisations have cautioned government that a pension programme must be managed carefully, or Grenada runs the risk of undoing gains made over the years especially in the area of public debt.

“Therefore, Mr Speaker, we must be fiscally prudent with our decisions or we run the risk of undoing the tremendous gains we have made in recent years and lost considerable funding we have acquired through proven fiscal discipline,” he said.

Since 5 November, members of the Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT) began sporadic industrial protest as part of their objection to government’s proposed 2% package on gratuity for retirees. They are demanding that government stick to a 1958 law which provides for 25%.

Teachers have since being joined by members of the Grenada Public Workers Union (PWU). The unions said they will not return to the bargaining table unless government accepts that 25% should be the working figure.

After the public officers stay off the job, Cabinet announced and instructed heads of department to deducts salaries for the number of days the workers were off the job. The unions are objecting to the decision.

Providing justification for the government’s action Dr Mitchell said, “The issue of paying workers for the days on which industrial action was taken, is not just fiscally irresponsible but also morally bankrupt and politically unwise. Therefore, Mr Speaker, the government cannot agree to such.”

Elaborating, he said, “Workers chose to withhold their labour. Their unions should have a strike fund in place and should, therefore, be responsible for paying their lost wages. We fully agree that workers should be paid, just not by the government.”

Workers remained off the job on Wednesday are awaiting the unions instruction as to when they will return on the job.

NOW Grenada is not responsible for the opinions, statements or media content presented by contributors. In case of abuse, click here to report.
Tags: budgetlinda strakerpensionunion
Next Post
No Holiday for Carriacou Carnival

2019 Budget Statement

Comment on post Cancel reply

Please enter your valid email address.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

© NOW Grenada. All Rights Reserved. Published by Aqua Design Inc. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

Copyright NOW Grenada

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.