PSA warns of one-day fast for backpay

At a press conference on Monday at PSA headquarters on Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, after meeting with its executive members, general council and wider membership, Duke said the day of fasting was agreed to.

Noting that all outstanding arrears must be paid by September 29, he said, “After the 29th (August) we will decide on a series of action to let this Government know not to play with workers. The political season is over!” All outstanding arrears which, he said, amounted to about $100 million, must be paid by September 29.

Expressing concern that Government has said it cannot afford to pay workers, Duke said the PSA notes a different type of lifestyle displayed by senior Government officials.

“If the Prime Minister’s bread has butter, don’t tell us to use lard...

cause what good for the goose must be good for the gander.” When asked whether the association will be willing to wait given the country’s current economic situation, Duke expressed outrage at the fact that public servants have been waiting since 2011 for their outstanding arrears.

With applause from fellow PSA members, Duke said that arrears were outstanding for Civil Aviation Authority, Public Transport Services Corporation, Regional Health Authorities and certain categories in the Tobago Regional Health Authority, Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), Blind Welfare Association, Chaguaramas Development Authority, traffic controllers, and the Bureau of Standards among others.

Duke also highlighted that attorneys will be meeting in Tobago sometime this week to discuss potential legal action.

This comes in light of the fact that some categories of TRHA members have yet to receive their back pay, although some of their Trinidadian counterparts have.

Concerning the working conditions under which workers have been exposed to, Duke warned that from September any building that is not compliant with the standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will be shut down.

He also used the opportunity to point out the “deafening silence” on the issue of outstanding arrears by other local trade unions.

Further commenting on the PSA’s struggle, Duke commented, “We want our pound of flesh too” adding that “come September morning, let them prepare for a full fight.”