Sarah: 2010 cost of living payment not in draft budget

~ To meet with unions in GOA ~

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams confirmed on Wednesday that the 2010 3.2 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for teachers and civil servants had not been included in the draft 2012 budget.

She declined to comment on government's position and decision on the payment, when asked about it during Wednesday's Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday. The payment was scheduled to be made in early 2012.

The Prime Minister said she would be setting up a meeting with the unions in the advisory body GOA, which also represents civil servants and teachers, and she did not want to go into the matter when she had not yet had the meeting. "I don't want to run ahead of the discussions to be had with the representatives of the workers and government," Wescot-Williams said in response to questions, on Wednesday

The Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) and the Windward Islands Civil Servants Union/Private Sector Union (WICSU/PSU) have expressed their firm position on the payment in a recent letter to the Prime Minister. The unions are not happy that the payment has not been included in the draft 2012 budget, despite the GOA advice that this payment should be made.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/23264-sarah-2010-cost-of-living-payment-not-in-draft-budget-.html

Darren Bent Employment law Middle East Extradition Gabriel Agbonlahor JS Bach