Contact Information: PO Box 244, Castries, St Lucia. Tel: (758) 452 3903 / 453 1208 , Fax: (758) 453 6061.
Email: csa@candw.lc       Web admin: cm8342002@yahoo.co.uk

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       INDUSTRIAL IMPASSE COMES TO AN END

The discussions between a sub-committee of the Cabinet of Ministers under the leadership of Public Service Minister Lenard Montoute and a delegation from the TUF led by its president Julian Monrose were facilitated by a team of private citizens led by officials of the Saint Lucia Employers Federation.
The two parties engaged in intense discussion on the various issues which lasted after 2:00 a.m. Thursday, determined to arrive at a resolution.

The TUF agreed to accept the 3.5 percent that government had unilaterally given in May 2009 but that government pay an additional 0.625 percent this month retroactive April 2009, bringing the total to be paid out by government to civil servants to 4.125 percent i.e.  an additional .625%. There were certain conditions which the TUF insisted had to be met by the Government in order to bring a resolution to the impasse.

• government agreed to sign all outstanding Collective agreements with the Public Sector Unions by July 31st, 2009;

• That 4.125% (an additional .625%) be applied effective June 2009 (retroactive April 2009) ;

• The balance of the 7.5% i.e. 3.375% will be honoured in April 2010 (retroactive to April 2009;

• government confirmed that it is not and has never been its policy to victimise workers and that no penalties would be imposed on members who participated in the industrial action;

• That the days the public servants spent out on the SLTUF activities will not be counted as part of their leave.

The TUF agreed to apologise for any breaches of procedures during the impasse.

CSA President Joseph Dosserie expressed his pride at members’ willingness to stand for their rights.
“We have set a standard in industrial relations that the employer should not take unilateral decisions not in the collective agreement. The fact that for economic development to be achieved, the era of governments and investors having discussions without labour is gone.  The result of unity is paramount. Those people who are not unionized and those who stayed in the background need to realize we fought for them. A message that I would like to send to government is the threats and the ploys they used in the process need to stop. They are yet to realize the negative repercussions of their actions.”

Hundreds of public sector workers took to the streets here Tuesday in a peaceful protest march aimed at forcing the government’s hand on the matter of a promised 7.5% wage increase.

THE CSA’S CASE FOR THE PAYMENT OF 7.5%

The opportunity is taken to apprise the general public about the issues which gave rise to the disruption of services on Monday, April 20, Thursday, April 23, Friday, April 24 and Monday April 27.

The contents of this statement come on the background of the concerns expressed by certain sections of the general public and the inaccurate and erroneous information that were released by government on the disruption of services and on the on-going discussions for what is due to public servants.

The general public is no doubt aware that the dispute which gave rise to the disruption of services surrounded the unilateral manner in which government sought to hold back a proportion of the 7.5% increase in salaries which was due to public servants, effective April 2009.

The background to the 7.5% is already common knowledge. However, it does no harm to refresh the minds of the general public, as follows: -

Ø  When it appeared that the negotiations between the Public Sector Unions affiliated to the Trade Union Federation (TUF) and the Government Negotiating Team was heading towards a stalemate, in order to avert industrial strike, the TUF appealed for the intervention of the Prime Minister.

Ø  In his wisdom, the Prime Minister decided to spear-head the negotiations himself. As a result, two (2) meetings were held between the Public Sector Unions affiliated to the TUF and the Prime Minister, on September 1 and 5, 2008, in an attempt to arrive at a settlement on salary increases for the triennium 2007/2008, 2008/2009 and 2009/2010.

Ø  In a letter dated 8^th September, 2008 from the Prime Minister, the outcome of the meeting of 5^th September was described as “Productive, rewarding and successful”, when a settlement of 14.5% increase was reached. From the point of view of the unions, it was a compromised position given the 16% increase which was in demand.

Ø  It was in light of this compromise by the unions and from an appreciation that public servants deserved a reasonable increase in salaries that the Prime Minister agreed that in addition to the monetary package of 14.5% to establish a “Task Force to examine the options available in the area of non-salary benefits and make recommendations to government”.

Ø  Incidentally, the first sign of the tendency of the Prime Minister to renege on signed agreements was when the agreed “Task Force never saw the light of day. Both the TUF and the CSA separately reminded the Prime Minister about the agreed “Task Force”. To date there has been no response. The demonstrated tendency for the Prime Minister to renege on agreements and to ignore the queries of the Unions about such matters provide fodder for industrial instability. But the unions did not create any fuss.

 With regards to the payment of the third tranch (of 7.5% increase), there were rumblings in the grape vine that the increases would not have been forth coming in the April salaries. The Prime Minister claimed in his address of April 22 that in preparing the budget it was “realized that there was a huge deficit on recurrent expenditure.” The question needs to be ask, is the preparation of the budget an over-night activity? So it would seem if the argument of the Prime Minister is followed. Contrary to the spurious argument of the Prime Minister, the preparation of a budget takes months, but should what is due to public servants be treated as a matter of last resort. After all the constitutionality of the Public Service demands payment to public servants and pensions should be the first recurrent expenditure to be discounted from the consolidated fund, and by extension, to be accounted for in the preparation of any government budget. Otherwise, a government is unable to meet its commitment to the public in the provision of public services.

Ø  So, the Prime Minister was wrong when he called the Unions in the TUF on April 13, inviting for a meeting next day – April 14, at which he indicated of the governments “inability” to meet the 7.5% which was duly negotiated and agreed on.

The unions compromised again. Instead of the 7.5%, the Prime Minister is prepared to pay 3% and to review the situation in six months. The unions countered for the payment of 4.5% and to give the government a reprieve of one year to settle the rest. Although the unions have agreed to compromise and to negotiate the apportioning of the 7.5% pay increase, they believe that there is a strong case for the payment of 7.5% now.

The economic conditions which persuaded the Prime Minister to settle for a 14.5% increase at the negotiations of September 1 and 5, 2008 have worsened with respect to the effect on Public Service salaries.

 It was in recognition of the effect on Public Service salaries that the Prime Minister, in his wisdom and benevolence had agreed that in order to alleviate the pressures a Task Force would have been established to consider “non-salary benefits” for Government workers.

 Prices of commodities have doubled and trebled. The 7.5% increase in salaries would still not have made ends meet.

 7.5% increase on the existing salaries of employees in grades 1 to 5 in the Public Service are in reality increments of a few dollars. The majority of public servants fall in grades 1 to 5.

 The Prime Minister, in his budget, indicated that 7.5% increase in public servants is equivalent to an additional 20 million dollars for the year. This translates to 1.6% of the total budget.

 The public service is that arm of Government which enables the provisions of services to the Public. In terms of the consolidated fund and the preparation of the budget, the payment of public servants and pensions ought to be the first provision to be made. To do otherwise, is to deny the public of service.

 In this era of the financial crisis, the response of any sensible Government ought to be the provision of more public services.

 The number of public servants is in excess of 6,000, each of these individuals have to support 5 persons on the average. So the unions are talking of 30,000 persons that have to be fed, those of school going age to attend school, the provision of transport, the payment of mortgages, the payment of utilities, etc.

The salaries of persons in Grades 1 to 5 ranged from $700 to $1,700 monthly. 7.5% increase contributes little to the bills and expenses these workers have to meet monthly.

 In the struggle of public servants, Grades 1 to 5 to make and meet they depend and have planned for the additional increase of 7.5% to do so. Overnight they were requested to accept 3% of that amount. At the same time they witness and hear of the efforts by Government to provide concessions and give relief to a variety of sectors; hotels, minibus owners, gas dealers, bakers, farmers, fishermen, taxi drivers.

Also, whilst public servants are being called upon to make a sacrifice, they witness all soughts of extravagance and waste when all in the country should embark on austerity, eg.

  More than 25 consultants are employed in various capacities in the Public Service;

-          There are two (2) media personel in the Prime Minister’s Office, ie. in additional to the professionals at GIS/NTN;

-          The excess of 33 million dollars have been borrowed for the Daher Building;

-          The Minister of Justice occupies two (2) offices and two Permanent Secretaries;

-          The Ministry of Tourism has been allotted 50 million dollars to market St.Lucia, at a time when travel is at a downturn because of the economic meltdown worldwide;

-          The Caribbean Market Place which was held last year was a show costing millions of dollars and which have not paid dividends to St.Lucia, but public servants hear of plans to hold the meeting of the Florida/Caribbean Cruise Association that would again cost millions;

-          At the recent Jazz Festival, Government had its own VIP pavilion in addition to the one by the St.Lucia Development Bank.

-          St.Lucia has more ambassadors, in New York, per head of population than any where else in the world;

-          Whilst it is true that government announced a 10% cut in Ministers’ salaries, the news is that they propose to increase their allowances by more than 30%.

The announcement for the streamlining the Ministries of Finance, Economic Affairs and Housing, Physical Planning, should be welcomed, but the measures proposed are just cosmetic – a gloss, given the inconsistent “belt tightening” antics of the Government.

It is correct to state that the unions affiliated to the TUF were not averse to the consideration of a reprieve, given the implications of the crushing international economic crisis to St.Lucia. Employment and saving jobs are the raison d’etre for the continued existence of trade unions. But the unions are also acutely aware that the Government, as the biggest employer, should be the one to set the examples as far as industrial relations practices are concerned.

The government had, therefore, sent the wrong signals and set the wrong precedence when it contravened the principles of the Collective Agreement for the review of clauses that are agreed to. The Unions contended, and correctly so, that the stipulated three (3) month notice for the review of agreed clauses and in that case the payment of 7.5% in April was violated.

As far as the unions are concerned, the matter of apportioning the 7.5% should have been one for negotiations. The Government ought not to have unilaterally provided for the payment of 3% in the budget or to suggest that because another union (not part of the TUF) had agreed for 3%, then the TUF unions should accept it.

The TUF unions are of the view that if the Government needs to prescribe an austerity programme in response to the financial crisis, then all the unions should have been invited to the table, as equal partners, to discuss a way forward. But to enter into clandestine arrangements with some unions and then to force the majority of unions to accept, was unacceptable in this era of industrial relations in St. Lucia.

BRAVO

I am sure that most, if not all of you, are aware of the recent dispute between the Government of St. Lucia and the Trade Union Federation (T.U.F.), regarding the payment of the 7.5% wage increase due in April 2009.

The records will reveal that the Trade Union Federation, of which the CSA is a member, was forced to initiate industrial action in order to force the Government to act in accordance with an earlier agreement made.

In the end, because of the action taken by the T.U.F., and supported by SOME public servants, we all were able to receive 4.125% out of the 7.5% due effective April 1, 2009.

To all those workers who joined the CSA in its call for unified action, we say “bravo” and thank you.  Without your co-ordinated effort this victory would not have been possible.

It is unfortunate that some of you did not find it necessary to join in this struggle, but that is understandable because of the type of propaganda which was being put out by the Government and some media practitioners.

We want to assure you, that the CSA is a responsible non-partisan political organization which understands the importance of working together in the interest of the development of our country, and would do nothing to destroy our beloved country.

There comes a time, however, when one must stand for fairness and equity; one such time was our recent struggle for OUR RIGHTS.

We trust that all our members who did not agree with the action taken will now understand that it was necessary under the circumstances. Remember, also that the CSA is only as strong as its weakest member, and that being a member of such an organization sometimes dictates that you have to forego your personal interest for the betterment of the organization.

To those employees who have not found it necessary to join the CSA, this is your chance to demonstrate your commitment to fairness, equity and justice – JOIN THE CSA NOW!

BRAVO – C.S.A.!

BRAVO – T.U.F.!

KEEP ON THE STRUGGLE!

INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION

ITUC OnLine
163/260908

ITUC and ETUC Call on EU to Root Economic Partnership in Development

Brussels, 26 September 2008 (ITUC OnLine): in a new statement issued today, the ITUC and the ETUC have called on the EU to listen to its partners in ACP countries and to concentrate on a pro-development approach in negotiating Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).
The EPAs are a new trade arrangement between Europe and the ACP (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) countries which aim at putting their trade relationships in conformity with WTO rules. However, there is concern that EPAs could require ACP countries to open their economies unsustainably beyond their world-level commitments.
"I agree with the African Union's Commissioner for Economic Affairs,
Dr Maxwell M Mwezalamba, when he says that EPAs should promote development, regional integration and a reduction in poverty," said John Monks, ETUC general secretary.  He added "and I also agree that if some countries do not sign full EPAs, then there should be a way of ensuring that their trade with the EU can continue."
As of now only the Caribbean region has confirmed its intention to sign a
regional full EPA, possibly in October, although the date of signature has
already been postponed several times. Negotiations with African and Pacific nations have been tense all along and could not be finalised before the end of 2007, the WTO-imposed deadline. As a result interim EPAs were agreed upon with 20 individual African and Pacific countries
"While the European Commission sees interim EPAs as a stepping stone for regional full EPAs, many aspects of the agreements as currently proposed risk undermining ACP countries," said Guy Ryder, ITUC general secretary.
"We urge the European Commission to show flexibility in the negotiations so as to ensure that EPAs contribute to the development prospects of ACP countrie instead." In particular, trade in services, investment, public procurement, competition policies and intellectual property should not be imposed in the negotiations, and the EU should not demand that ACP countries open up to 80% of their markets to imports.
Instead, EPAs need to become real instruments for the development of ACP countries - which include many of the poorest countries in the world - and fully support endogenous regional integration processes as defined by ACP states. Indeed, trade agreements struck between the EU and individual ACP countries regardless of the regional context might fragment already weak regional integration processes. In place of such deals, trade unions support the inclusion of development benchmarks in the EPA texts. These would reflect the development priorities of the ACP countries at both national and regional levels and make the realisation of trade liberalisation contingent on the level of economic and social development of each country in its process of regional integration.
"Equally important is the call for strong, effective and operational social and labour chapters as full part of EPAs," said Ryder. "Tradecan never be fair if comparative advantages are based on the exploitation of workers when they are not allowed to organise."
"The social chapter should also help to ensure that European
multinationals in ACP countries engage in social dialogue with union
representatives and use socially and environmentally responsible practices
including vis-à-vis their local suppliers and partners," added Monks.
"In addition, the EU should finance technical cooperation to help ACP
countries with the implementation of ILO labour standards, to increase the focus and impact of development assistance on gender equality as well as to support trade unions' activities and build their capacities." 
Finally, as repeatedly argued by trade unions and civil society organisations, EPAs must be made transparent. The EPA negotiations should not be held in secrecy, and the social partners should be genuinely informed and consulted. No less important is the involvement of national parliaments of ACP countries in
the negotiation and ratification processes. 
The ITUC represents 168 million workers in 155 countries and territories and has 311 national affiliates. Website: http://www.ituc-csi.org

For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on: +32 2 224
0204 or +32 476 621 018
 

SLASPA

On June 9, 2008 the St. Lucia Civil Service Association (CSA) was party to an agreement for the “Payment of Termination Benefits” to employees of the St. Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA).  The other parties to the agreement were the National Workers Union and Ports Police Association.

The agreement deals with the mechanism for the accumulation and safeguarding of funds to ensure payments to employees who would become eligible.  The payments amount to EC$4.8 million for eligible employees represented by the three (3) unions will be made by April 2010.

The agreement also provides for the establishment of a Committee, with representatives from the CSA, NWU and the Ports Police Association and SLASPA, which will, among other things, monitor the deposits to be made.

It took a long period of negotiations spanning over three (3) years before the agreement could be reached.  The CSA takes the opportunity to acknowledge the collaboration with the NWU and the Ports Police Association for making the signed agreement possible.

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