CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC—Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre mentioned that the federal government can pay greater than EC$30 million (One EC greenback = US$0.37 cents) in backpay to public servants earlier than the island celebrates its forty sixth anniversary of political independence from Britain on February 22.
“Now we have accomplished negotiations with the TUF (Commerce Union Federation), and we are going to make the announcement very quickly as to when civil servants ought to anticipate their backpay and wage enhance.
“I can guarantee you that they’ll get it earlier than independence. Civil servants might be having their backpay and wage enhance earlier than independence,” Pierre added.
A authorities assertion mentioned that following the profitable negotiations between the Authorities Negotiating Group (GNT) and the TUF, the Cupboard has agreed to pay out a further EC$32 million in again pay to greater than 11,000 public servants in February.
It mentioned that the federal government will start the again pay disbursement on February 20 this yr, with Prime Minister Pierre confirming that the again pay might be tax-free.
The TUF is the bargaining agent for six organizations, together with the St. Lucia Civil Service Affiliation, the St. Lucia Hearth Service Affiliation, the St. Lucia Medical and Dental Affiliation, the St. Lucia Nurses Affiliation, the St. Lucia Lecturers Union, and the Vieux-Fort Dock and Common Staff Union.
Negotiations between the GNT and TUF concluded in December 2024, and the assertion mentioned that negotiations additionally included discussions on salaries over two consecutive trienniums.
It mentioned that Cupboard accepted the phrases of the settlement in January 2025.
The primary triennium commenced in 2022 and can conclude in 2025, throughout which period salaries and wages for public servants will enhance by six p.c. Within the second triennium, from 2025 to 2028, salaries will see an extra enhance of seven p.c.
“The federal government of St. Lucia extends its due to the GNT… and the management of the TUF for reaching an amicable conclusion following the negotiations,” the assertion added.
