The President of the Public Services Association (PSA), Watson Duke, has advised PSA members to shut down all government office, starting Wednesday.
Duke and PSA members are upset at the wage offer made by the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) to settle demands for salaries for the period 2008-2010. On Tuesday hundreds of public service workers flooded the streets of Port of Spain to dramatise their concerns.
The COP has offered no salary increases for 2008 and 2009 and a one per cent increase for 2010. In addition she has advised the PSA that she will consolidate a $125 per month cost of living allowance with salaries existing at December 31, 2007.
Stephanie Lewis met with Duke but is holding firm on the offer and is refusing to renegotiate with the PSA chief, who told his members it is time to shut down the public service.
"Go to your offices and do nothing. I am not talking about work-to-rule, you know; I am talking about going in to work and do nothing because you cannot concentrate when you have bills to pay; you can't work when your children are crying out for milk," Duke said.
"No barrels must be cleared in the port, the water service must be interrupted, the hospital must not operate as normal. All negotiations have come to an end until you are satisfied. Today is war," he added.
Duke although slammed two labour leaders who are now aligned to the new government, Labour Minister Errol Mc Leod and government senator David Abdulah.
"Too many selfish Errol McLeods...Abdulah used to be a man marching for inflation; Abdulah used to be man who care about prices. Where is Abdulah?"
Duke and PSA members are upset at the wage offer made by the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) to settle demands for salaries for the period 2008-2010. On Tuesday hundreds of public service workers flooded the streets of Port of Spain to dramatise their concerns.
The COP has offered no salary increases for 2008 and 2009 and a one per cent increase for 2010. In addition she has advised the PSA that she will consolidate a $125 per month cost of living allowance with salaries existing at December 31, 2007.
Stephanie Lewis met with Duke but is holding firm on the offer and is refusing to renegotiate with the PSA chief, who told his members it is time to shut down the public service.
"Go to your offices and do nothing. I am not talking about work-to-rule, you know; I am talking about going in to work and do nothing because you cannot concentrate when you have bills to pay; you can't work when your children are crying out for milk," Duke said.
"No barrels must be cleared in the port, the water service must be interrupted, the hospital must not operate as normal. All negotiations have come to an end until you are satisfied. Today is war," he added.
Duke although slammed two labour leaders who are now aligned to the new government, Labour Minister Errol Mc Leod and government senator David Abdulah.
"Too many selfish Errol McLeods...Abdulah used to be a man marching for inflation; Abdulah used to be man who care about prices. Where is Abdulah?"
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