PSA Accuses CPO of Delay Tactics in Salary Negotiations

Felicia Thomas, President of the Public Services Association (PSA), has been vocal about the ongoing wage negotiations impacting civil servants, statutory authorities, and workers under the Tobago House of Assembly. Recently, the Minister of Finance instructed the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) to propose a 10% salary increase for these individuals. However, PSA has been struggling to secure a meeting to discuss this offer. After reaching out to the CPO multiple times, they were invited to a meeting not about the proposed salary increase, but about the state of the economy. This was met with frustration from the PSA as they believe the focus should be on the 10% salary increase, especially since economic presentations had already been done. Thomas accused the CPO’s office of delay tactics and questioned why senior officials had received salary increases while public officers were still waiting. She highlighted that the CPO and the Prime Minister reportedly received a 47% increase. Moving forward, the PSA is determined to only attend meetings that address the 10% offer and demand the CPO to focus on the salary negotiation.