The National Workers Union (NWU) has issued a strong response to statements made by Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre regarding back pay being issued to members, even though negotiations, which began in September last year, are still ongoing.
The NWU described the announcement as premature and “a flagrant attempt to disrespect, undermine, and interfere with the collective bargaining processes that are ongoing and have not concluded”.
During a televised address, Prime Minister Pierre announced that police officers and fortnightly paid workers represented by the NWU would receive their back pay, along with other public sector employees whose unions had accepted a 13 per cent salary increase. He acknowledged that discussions between the Government Negotiating Team (GNT) and the Police Welfare Association (PWA) and the NWU were still underway and that he had directed the GNT to resolve all outstanding issues as quickly as possible.
In its statement, the NWU said: “This unprecedented behaviour raises serious concerns for the future of industrial relations in the country and cannot be allowed to germinate.”
“As at our last meeting on February 4, 2025, the GNT informed us that they were still awaiting feedback from the Ministry of Finance in order to allow them to provide responses or counter-proposals to our submissions,” he added.
The NWU insisted that negotiations “must proceed without political interference”.
The union’s position is similar to that of the PWA whose president Cameron Laure told St Lucia Times this week that Pierre’s move was an “imposition” and “gross disrespect and disregard” to the association since the PWA had not reached an agreement on fringe benefits, which must be settled before salary negotiations can proceed.
