Lead Editor-Politics
akash.samaroo@cnc3.co.tt
National Union of Government and Federated Workers (NUGFW) president general Christopher Streete says “somebody dropped the ball” in implementing new salaries for approximately 20,000 workers who were granted a 10 per cent wage increase earlier this year.
With workers still waiting for their adjusted salaries, Streete told Guardian Media yesterday that he had spoken with Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) Dr Daryl Dindial and was informed that the matter had reached the Finance and General Purposes (F&GP) Committee. He is now hoping it will be discussed at Cabinet today.
“Somebody dropped the ball, man,” Streete said.
“So, we’re hoping that it is escalated to Cabinet. Of course, the workers are not pleased because they were anticipating it. But it is what it is.”
He said the union now wants the process expedited so workers can begin receiving their increased salaries as soon as possible.
“We’re just hoping that somebody put some pep in their step and get it implemented in the soonest possible time.”
The NUGFW signed the 10 per cent wage agreement with the CPO in April, covering two bargaining periods between 2014 and 2019. The settlement benefits approximately 20,000 daily-rated workers, including skilled labourers, tradesmen and other blue-collar workers.
At the time, Dindial said the agreement would cost the State approximately $2.6 billion in backpay and add another $252 million annually to the public sector wage bill. The arrears package comprises approximately $1 billion, or 40 per cent, in cash, with another $1.56 billion to be settled through non-cash benefits.
Those non-cash arrangements include options to offset arrears against income tax and HDC mortgage payments, as well as tax exemptions associated with vehicle loans. Retirees are to receive their arrears entirely in cash.
The CPO had initially indicated that the new salaries were expected to take effect in June or July, with the first tranche of arrears also expected during this calendar year.
“I was hoping for July. That’s what I was hoping for. But it didn’t happen. July gone,” Streete said.
He said he will now follow up on the matter daily.
“August will be ideal, but I don’t want to make any pronouncements until the requisite process has been completed.”
Guardian Media put to Streete reports that funding for the wage increases may only become available following the upcoming 2027 Budget.
However, he rejected the suggestion that the delay was due to a lack of available funding, insisting that money for the new salary rates had already been provided for during the Government’s mid-year fiscal exercise.
“I am confident that it will be because it’s not a question of the availability of money. The funds were, in fact, allocated in the mid-year review,” Streete said.
He described the delay instead as “some administrative bungling along the line”.
During the June 2026 mid-year budget exercise, the Government sought approximately $2.93 billion in supplementary funding, with the bulk of the money earmarked to meet salary increases arising from settled public sector wage negotiations. The funding was expected to address salary commitments affecting more than 62,000 unionised workers.
Streete, however, drew a distinction between funding for the workers’ new salary rates and the billions of dollars in arrears owed under the settlement.
“The 2027 Budget is going to make provision for their backpay. That, too, is part of the signed agreement,” he said.
“Not the new rates. The new rates were provided for in the mid-year review.”
Under the agreement, the 10 per cent wage settlement, coupled with the consolidation of Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) during the two bargaining periods, results in an average increase of approximately 17 per cent over workers’ 2013 salaries.
The Chief Personnel Officer could not be reached for comment yesterday.
