Public sector workers refuse wage offer, plan to camp at Red House

Standoff between police and PSA members at the Central Bank

Public Services employees in Trinidad and Tobago are on the warpath, pushing demands for more pay. And they say they are not easing up on their demonstrations.

They have decided that they will not accept the five per cent over three years that the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) has said is her final offer and they have said they will remain outside Parliament to highlight their demands until the end of March.

"The Government has insulted us for yet another time. What the CPO said to us is things hard the Government forcing to find money to pay. I say they are looking for a war and I hope they are prepared for it," Duke told the Trinidad Express outside the Red House.

He told reporters public sector workers will "take up residence" at the Red House until they get a double-digit offer.

The PSA has until Thursday to officially respond to the COP's offer:

• 2008: two per cent
• 2009: one per cent
• 2010: two per cent

The offer includes the consolidation of the existing Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) of $125 per month with salary as at December 31, 2007, and a new COLA allowance of: 2008, $125; 2009, $125; and 2010, $135. Public servants are also being offered a $2,000 lump sum.

Duke led his members to the entrance of the Central bank where he and PSA executive members sat in front of the doors of the bank. Police officers from the Guard and Emergency Branch were called out and surrounded the protesters.

Police asked the unionists to move from the entrance to the bank but they refused, challenging the police to arrest them.

At the Red House opposition senators Faris Al-Rawi and Pennelope Beckles-Robinson greeted Duke. Beckles-Robinson said the union should ask the Government why it is building a billion-dollar highway instead of giving the union a favourable offer.

"If it is that you can't offer more than five, then let us know what it is, because we know right now oil has been increasing, we know what was the budgeted figure and we know that it is going to one hundred-plus, which is even better than a couple years ago," Beckles-Robinson said.

"We would recall that very often Government would accuse Mr Manning of prioritising infrastructure and not dealing with the needs of the people. So I think this is a legitimate question that the public servants need to ask," she said.

Duke is adamant that he will continue his protests, even threatening to disrupt flights into Piarco International Airport.