The Fire Service Association finally signed on the dotted and has followed the Police Social Welfare Association and the T&T Unified Teachers Association in accepting government’s four per cent wage increase offer.
A media release from the Personnel Department stated that the association had accepted the offer following an emergency meeting, when members voted to take four per cent. The association signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) accommodating the salary increase for the 2014-2016 and 2017-2019 periods, it added.
Apart from the four per cent salary increase, the association signed off on improved allowances and revised benefits applicable to its members. There were also adjustments to allowances such as Protective Suit Maintenance, House and Meal, Travelling and Facilities, Special Responsibility, Special Tobago Allowance, Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) and a lump-sum payment of $4,000 to officers who retired compulsorily, voluntarily and with permission on the grounds of illness for the 2014-2015 period.
New allowances include Land, Search and Rescue, Legal Unit, Information Technology and Air Condition Technology. There was also an agreement for a Job Evaluation Exercise.
Chief Personnel Officer Dr Daryl Dindial thanked fire officers yesterday for their continuous commitment to serving the public and protecting lives and property.
He said there were many outstanding issues that the Personnel Department continues to work on to improve the lives, welfare and well-being of fire officers and other stakeholders.
“The CPO stated throughout the negotiations process that the State demonstrated its commitment to honouring its offer, despite the matter being referred to the Special Tribunal of the Industrial Court. He added that the Government’s priority remains the preservation of jobs in our economy, and the role of the State as an employer cannot be divorced from its role as manager of the economy.”
Dindial also revealed that several Caricom countries, including Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, St Lucia and Jamaica, had wage freezes during the period under review. He added that several Caricom countries also retrenched workers in their public services to reduce expenditure, saying he was thankful that this was not T&T’s reality.
“Commander Dindial wishes to recognise the Executive of the 1st and 2nd division associations for their leadership and for working tirelessly on behalf of their membership.”
Dindial also appealed to other associations to accept the offer.