Reclassification woes

They are all saying the right thing-that is, negotiations are still ongoing, but behind the scenes the R-2 discussion between the Teachers’ Union and government is not all clear sailing.

When school reopens on Monday, teachers will be there, but they have not ruled out the possibility of industrial action, if the R-2 phase of the Reclassification exercise isn’t worked out.{{more}}

“Everything is on the table,” Philbert John, General Secretary of the Teachers’ Union, said at a press conference held on Monday, 25th August, at the Union’s Headquarters.

The teachers voiced their utter dissatisfaction with the offer being made by Government in the R-2 phase of the reclassification exercise.

In the R-1 phase, which took effect on January 1, 2008, the different posts in the government service were evaluated and a value applied to them.

However, in the R-2 phase, the salary scale of each position should be adjusted after consideration is given to the value of a comparative job in the private sector and the increased cost of living.

So when the government technocrats offered a 6 per cent spread on the midpoint of the salary bands, it was “quickly rejected” by the Union.

“As a Union, we are still trying to figure out how they came up with that figure,’ said Joy Matthews, President of the Teachers’ Union.

Matthews said that what the government was proposing was not going to meet the need of the Union’s membership, as they grapple with the rising level of inflation in the country.

So while the R-2 phase was to take effect on July 1, 2008, discussions will have to continue because the Teachers’ Union will not be rushed.

Matthews said that based on the last meeting the Union had with the government’s negotiation team, it would seem as though the Union’s counter proposal of 13 per cent was not given any consideration.

The Union officials argue that when examined closely, what they are asking for is fair, and isn’t outside the scope of what was recommended by the consultants.

The August 22 deadline, which they had given to government to reply to them, has come and gone, and the matter is now with Cabinet for consideration.

Meanwhile, the teachers remain on standby, as they await word.

When asked if the Teachers’ Union was being soft on the Ralph Gonsalves led administration, Matthews said no.

She said that the difference between this and the previous administrations is that this administration encourages dialogue, even in the face of disagreement.

She also reminded the media that the teachers took action in January when they went on three days of “rest and reflection” to show their displeasure with the outcome of the R-1 phase of the reclassification exercise.

A meeting of the membership of the Union is scheduled for September 17, by which time Union officials hope that they will be able to offer some positive word.

SEARCHLIGHT spoke to Godfred Pompey, the Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s office, who said that he believes the situation will be worked out.

“We are having differences, but we are not at a logger-heads,” he said.

He said that he believes that the six per cent spread at the midpoint of the salary bands, coupled with the recent 10 per cent increase in salaries given by government, is fair.

Public Servants received a 10 per cent increase in salary this year, including a five per cent retroactive to January 2007.

He said that in addition to the R-2 considerations, government also has to brace for the cost of dealing with posts that have not yet been reclassified and the adjustments that will come from the appellate committee.

With the implementation of the R-1 phase in January, persons who had queries about their job rating could have had their cases heard before an appellate committee. That committee will then make adjustment proposals to Cabinet.

Meanwhile, Cools Vanloo, who took over the leadership of the Public Service Union (PSU) from Aubrey Burgin in April, says that his Union stands with the position of the teachers.

He said that if a government wants to give less than what the 2004 Powell report prescribes then they must come up with a proper relief package so that public servants can weather the storm of inflation.

“How are they going to help us cope?” Vanloo questioned.

He also noted that what the unions are asking for is being guided by the consultant’s report.

According to Vanloo, when the unions argue points that aren’t favourable to them, they are quickly reminded that they accepted the report, so he is now reminding government of the same.

He stressed that the PSU’s position is not political, and as to whether or not industrial action will be considered if talks breakdown, Vanloo said that that is for the membership to decide as time goes by.(KJ)