P.S.U. Condemns Briceño Administration for “Shameless Self-Enrichment”

The Public Service Union (PSU) is condemning the Briceño Administration for a salary increase for the Cabinet Secretary and Chief Executive Officers that came into effect one day after the 2025 general elections.  In a statement today, the P.S.U. highlighted that the salary increase comes amidst stagnant wages, withheld increments, and threats to the pensions of public officers across the country.  President of the PSU Dean Flowers says that this salary increase comes as a disrespect to the union.

 

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“This came at us like a thief in the night. At no point in time did we envision this shameless act once again by the cabinet secretary on behalf of the CEO caucus and himself. What is even more damning, it doesn’t even says that cabinet approved. It just says we’re adjusting our salary pretty much. And I’m adjusting my salary and the and also the he kind adjust the CEO’s salary. There was no indication that this matter was tabled before coming out, that it came as a result of approval by the Prime Minister. Nothing to that extent. What’s even more surprising is that in our good faith conversation and discussions with the government negotiating team led by Honorable Cordel Hyde, deputy Prime Minister and and Minister of State Ministry of Finance, honorable Chris Coye, they would’ve given us their undertaken and their commitment that we will embark this administration will embark with the support and sponsorship of the IDB to undertake a comprehensive salary review and salary restructuring exercise. And so given that undertaking everybody’s salary would’ve been looked at and everybody, it is expected that everybody then would be compensated as fairly and as justly as is possible. So given that the government has given this undertaking to the PSU and the joint unions, It’s a disrespect to the entire collective bargaining process. It’s a disrespect to the government negotiating team in my view, because in essence they’re saying we don’t care what you’re doing on the larger scale.  We’re looking after ourselves. And and this is what we want and this is what we get. And I guess this is another, come back on their end, considering that in the past we would have of course called for a reversal of certain decisions where their allowances were concerned.”