by Linda Straker
- Negotiations began in December 2022
- Collective agreement covers January 2023 to December 2025
- New agreement is groundbreaking and historic in terms of fringe benefit for public officers
Government Workers contracted by the Public Service Commission (PSC) are set to receive an increase in salary according to a new collective agreement signed with the Grenada Public Workers Union (PWU) for the period January 2023 to December 2025.
During that period, workers will receive a total of 13% increase in salary, with 4% for 2023 and 2024 and 5% in the year 2025.
“This package has in it a clause stating that contract workers will get the increases, even fixed term contract workers. In the past, we would have had serious battles with the previous administration in terms of some members being left out in terms of their ability to secure increases,” said Brian Grimes, President of the PWU.
“We now have enshrined in our agreement a statement that contract workers will now get it,” he said, pointing out that there will be some administrative delays, but all workers will be receiving the increase in due course.
Contract workers within the public service were only afforded the salary that was negotiated because each contract is personalised. However, because they are working within the public service, they are required to pay the membership fee of the Union.
During the signing ceremony, which was broadcast live on television and other social media platforms, Grimes said that the union’s negotiating team was not granted all it requested, but they are satisfied that the new agreement is groundbreaking and historic in terms of the fringe benefit for public officers.
“We did not get all that we asked for, but I think this negotiating cycle, this period is groundbreaking. The first thing in terms of big-ticket items, I want to speak on it because I think it is important to celebrate our victories…This is the first fringe benefit we have in over 10 years.” A fringe benefit committee was established in 2021.
Under the new agreement, Senior Administrative Officers are now designated as Travelling Officers and will also get a 50% concession on a new vehicle; Government will pay 55% of public workers’ health insurance and workers pay 45%; and families of Public officers who died in the line of duty will receive a one-year bereavement financial support ranging at different percentage depending on the years of service.
Among the other fringe benefits are free medicine at the hospital for nurses and doctors; non-established workers to receive a minimum ex gratia of EC$500 per month once they served 15 years in the service. Workers in that category include cooks and other kitchen staff at schools. The payment was previously no more than EC$300.
The negotiations began in December 2022.
