Before the elections take over the social landscape of the nation, I would like to seriously ask the president of the Public Services Association, Mr Watson Duke, potential Member of Parliament for Tobago East, if he is serious!
How on the heels of the raise experienced by some public servants, notice has been given that there will be a raise in the union dues from June 2015. What accounts for this sudden and dramatic increase in deduction Mr President? Was there any consultation with members as to the reasoning or any negotiation with members so that they can have their say in this increase?
Maybe the goodly President felt that since public servants were being given an increase of 14 per cent in salary from this month that they can now afford a 100 per cent increase in fees! Where is the reasoning behind the increase and the amount of the increase?
Did Mr Duke take into consideration that there are those (Nalis for example) who have not been given any settlement and therefore this will further cause a depletion in their salaries without any adjustment. I am hoping that he would have looked at the fact that these negotiations are behind time and salaries and not negotiated for the current terms!
I am praying that this increase in salary has nothing to do with the campaign in Tobago East and the funds do not find themselves somewhere in the coffers of that campaign! As concerning as that is, I am very worried as to the method and application of this increase. Do you think this increase is merited considering the service (or lack thereof) that this union provides? Currently Nalis workers are locked in a battle struggling to have their voices heard and are being stymied by this said union! So Mr Duke, let us know what is the real reason for this increase?
Ryan Martinez
Gasparillo