• Latest
Unions and government back to the negotiating table

Unions and government back to the negotiating table

4 years ago
NDC wins Grenada’s General Election 2022

General Elections Results 23 June 2022

3 hours ago
STAR Intervention Programme brings out best in RGPF

Despite overwhelming success at the polls…A word to the wise!!

6 hours ago
OECS Family Launches 195in365 Global Environmental Initiative

OECS Family Launches 195in365 Global Environmental Initiative

8 hours ago
NDC announces 7 candidates

OECS Commission congratulates newly elected PM and Government of Grenada

8 hours ago
New executive leading the work of the CCG

Statement from the Conference of Churches in Grenada

11 hours ago
Prime Minister’s Address: Grenada’s preparation for Covid-19

Former PM speaks with PM-elect

11 hours ago
Sagicor salutes legends at 2021 Group Annual Awards ceremony

Sagicor salutes legends at 2021 Group Annual Awards ceremony

11 hours ago
NDC wins Grenada’s General Election 2022

NDC wins Grenada’s General Election 2022

1 day ago
Claims of coronavirus at SGU designed to create fear and panic

Covid-19 update: Grenada Dashboard 22 June 2022

2 days ago
This Day in History

This Day in History: 23 June 1831

2 days ago

Is the 2022 elections manifesto of Grenada’s main opposition complete?

2 days ago
National Cleanup Begins Friday

List of Designated Emergency Shelters 2022

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

Unions and government back to the negotiating table

This story was posted 4 years ago
26 November 2018
in General News
3 min. read
Share

by Linda Straker

  • Trade unions in representing public officers call off industrial protest
  • Bishop Clyde Harvey intervenes
  • PWU requests all members to report as normal for work tomorrow Tuesday

Acting Labour Minister Anthony Boatswain has confirmed that trade unions in Grenada representing public officers decided to call off the industrial protest because of government’s commitment to new offers on the negotiating table.

Boatswain indicated he wrote to the teachers union explaining that government will adopt new positions, and also that when he met with the unions representing essential services workers, he would send the dispute to an arbitration tribunal. “It was then they announced that they will go back to the negotiation table and called off the industrial protest,” said Boatswain.

“As a result of that commitment from the unions, there was now no need to appoint an arbitration tribunal,” he said as he explained that teachers are not essential services workers. “That is I why I wrote to them; the arbitration was for essential workers,” admitting that discussions were happening with all the unions to solve the impasse.

A statement issued from the Government Information Service (GIS) on Monday quoted Boatswain, “Having invoked my powers under the Labour Relations Act and summoned a meeting of the disputing parties today to discuss arbitration, the meeting ended with an agreement to resume the pension talks.

“I have been reliably informed by the leadership of the trade unions that all industrial action will cease and workers, in particular, our teachers, will return to the classroom as of Tuesday, 27 November.”

Thanking the leadership of the public sector trade unions for their understanding in this matter and for their recognition that the national interest and the interest of our nation’s children supersede all other interests, Boatswain said he was very gratified to have been of some assistance in getting the public sector trade unions and in particular, the Grenada Union of Teachers to cease all industrial action and to return to the bargaining table to seek a permanent solution to the current industrial dispute.

“It is my wish that a permanent solution will be found to this dispute that will benefit all concerned,” the statement said.

Following the minister’s statement, the Grenada Public Workers Union (PWU) published an announcement informing members that following the intervention of Bishop Clyde Harvey, Bishop of the Catholic Church, and the agreement of government to discontinue the arbitration process with the PWU and GTAWU, the PWU requested all members to report as normal for work tomorrow Tuesday, 27 November 2018.

The unions and government’s Pension Engagement Committee team will continue negotiations discussion on Tuesday, 27 November 2018.

The industrial protest began the first week of November 2108 when the Grenada Union of Teachers instructed its members to stay off the job because of government’s refusal to accept its 25% gratuity on pension. Government proposed 2%. Later in the week, the Public Workers Union announced that its workers were taking a solidarity stance, and since then a wide cross-section of public workers has been on the job 2 or 3 days per week.

Last week Tuesday, a march and rally were held in which hundreds of workers paraded through the streets of St George’s chanting and displaying placards calling on government to accept the 25%.

Government has continuously said it cannot afford the 25% because it will violate the Fiscal Responsibility Legislation. During last week Wednesday’s budget presentation, Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell said that accepting that percentage would financially cripple the nation.

The unions and government’s pension negotiating team held a meeting last Friday and by evening the unions instructed members to remain at home from 26 to 28 November.

On Saturday, 24 November government issued a news release saying that Acting Minister for Labour, Honourable Anthony Boatswain would be taking immediate action to seek a solution to resolve the dispute between the Pension Engagement Committee and the trade unions and staff associations, on the matter of the advanced payment of pension (gratuity). A meeting was set for 8:30 am on Monday.

NOW Grenada is not responsible for the opinions, statements or media content presented by contributors. In case of abuse, click here to report.
Tags: anthony boatswainarbitrationbishopclyde harveygratuitylabourlinda strakerpensionunion
Next Post

Statement by Acting Minister for Labour, Honourable Anthony Boatswain

Comments 2

  1. Anonymous says:
    4 years ago

    Lord enable all those who are involve in the negotiation, to come to a peaceful and acceptable conclusion.

    Reply
  2. Vince Joseph says:
    4 years ago

    Just listened to the worst speech i heard from a leader in a industrial dispute. He is a demented dictator instead of bringing parties to the table he is threatening their jobs a plan that would lead our country into civil unrest. As minister of national security thats a serious lapse of judgement that would plunge us back into the pre and post invasion era. History will repeat itself. Lord have mercy on us

    Reply

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.

[bsa_pro_ad_space id=9 crop=”no” max_width=300]

© 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.