by Linda Straker
- 2023 Estimate of Revenue and Expenditure provided 4% increase to workers
- New collective agreement signed in June covers January 2023 to December 2025
- 2024 Estimate of Revenue and Expenditure will be presented on 4 December 2023
Brian Grimes, President of Grenada Public Workers Union (GPWU) said that a significant number of contracted workers employed by the Government are yet to receive the increase to their salaries as mandated in the new collective agreement signed in June 2023. “We are heading into a new budget cycle and a significant percentage of the GPWU members have not received their legally binding wage increase (4%) that was signed on 28 June. WHY?? This is of serious concern,” Grimes posted on his personal Facebook page.
According to the new collective agreement which covers January 2023 to December 2025, during that period thousands of Government workers will receive a total of 13% increase in salary with 4% for 2023 and 2024 and 5% in the year 2025.
Though the new collective agreement was signed in June, the 2023 Estimate of Revenue and Expenditure which was presented in December 2022, provided for a 4% increase to workers.
The new collective agreement states, “With respect to officers on contract within the Bargaining Unit these salary increases will be applied to their contracted salary upon renewal of their contracts in instances where these contracts are renewed annually and on an annual basis where the contractual terms span more than one year. The salary increases shall also apply to officers holding fixed term letters issued by individual ministries.”
Before the signing of the June 2023 agreement, contract workers within the Public Service were only afforded the salary that was negotiated with them 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.
The 2024 Estimate of Revenue and Expenditure, also called the Budget, will be presented on 4 December 2023 and is scheduled to take effect as of 1 January 2024.
