Former Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Mariano Browne says he believes Union members are being unreasonable to continue to demand or expect double digit salary increases.
He made the comment while speaking on Power 102 Digital’s Power Breakfast Show this morning.
His comments come following last Friday’s Spotlight on the Economy held at the Hyatt hotel in Port of Spain.
Finance Minister Colm Imbert, at the event, emphasized that the 19 percent increase being asked for by the Public Services Association is unsustainable and unreasonable.
He explained that it will cost the state tens of billion dollars in back-pay and additional recurrent expenditure.
Mr Browne suggested this morning however that the unions are aware of this but are simply asking for what their members want.
Mr Browne also commented on the news that the Amalgamated Workers Union has accepted the four per cent wage increase offer from the Chief Personnel Officer.
Some sectors of the trade union movement have criticised AWU’s decision to accept the offer.
Mr Browne said that while the decision to take the offer and run may be sensible, it could come at a cost.
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