I cannot raise their wages

Lifeguards and supervisors met yesterday with Minister of Tourism, Howard Chin Lee, who reiterated his commitment to lifeguard services said the ministry was unable to intervene with wage negotiations, but promised an increased budget for lifeguard services in 2005. Speaking at a meeting held at the Ministry of Tourism, Chin Lee said improving the infrastructure and the training of lifeguards are one of the ministry’s top priorities. “The matter between the National Union of Government Federated Workers Union (NUGFW) and the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) is separate and apart from the duties of the ministry,” said Chin Lee. “All that we do can is improve the infrastructure and training for lifeguards.

We have also agreed on three new positions within the Lifeguard Services Unit, which include lifeguard instructor, lifeguard patrol captain and lifeguard community education officer,” said Chin Lee. These positions, he said, would assist in creating careers for lifeguards so they too can experience upward social mobility. Shop steward, Curtis Hernandez, told Newsday although the tourism minister could not intervene with their salaries, he was most thankful that the ministry kept their promise in getting the three new positions and in the creation of careers for them. “We can only hope that at our next meeting on December 20 with the CPO, that they would successfully consider agreements for our proposals,” said Hernandez. A meeting between the shop steward and lifeguards is expected to take place  tomorrow to discuss what further actions would be taken by lifeguards.