PSA planning more action to press demands for better pay

The Public Services Assocaition (PSA) is planning another "blackout day" Tuesday to press demands for more money. And PSA president Watson Duke says it is not a one-day affair. "Tt's an entire month of planned activities that will find the Public Service showing dissent and disapproval at the Government's offer of one and five per cent in ways that are unimaginable," Duke told the Trinidad Express. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has said the government can only afford a five per cent increase over five years, adding that she would pay more if the government had the money. Duke is not satisfied with that. "We are going to call upon different arms of the Public Service to voice and to express their dissent and disapproval with the Government's offer," he told the paper, adding: "That is all I would say."  The PSA boss also threatened that worse will come if Government refuses to improve its offer.  "These 6,000 people we have out here deserve to live a decent life. How could you offer workers between $1 and $7 a day increase? Is that the kind of increase that we deserve, a $1 to $7 per day? What more could that buy?" he asked. Duke did acknowledge that the government is facing a cash flow problem and said the PSA  is prepared to accept another offer. "We have come right down to the cost of inflation, give us back 100 per cent of our purchasing power, even if they can't give us an increase, give us back our purchasing power," he said.