This all follows a high-level meeting on May thirteenth between union leaders and government officials under the Joint Union Negotiating Team. We spoke with the Minister of Public Service, Henry Charles Usher, who weighed in on the situation. When asked whether the government is concerned about a potential strike, he acknowledged the stakes but emphasized the administration’s commitment to dialogue and compromise.
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service
“I think they did issue a notice last week Wednesday. A week has passed. No I believe that was all part of their they had said that they would have certain steps that they would take. They would have the sit down, they would be going to level two, level three. But we hope that we don’t get to level three. We hope that with these proposals, that these proposals are accepted, that the membership of the PSU, the membership of the BNTU and all of the broader teachers, public officers, that they can see that these are reasonable proposal. These are proposals that are sustainable. These are proposals that have come out of a level of discourse, a respectful level of discourse around the table. And as I always say it’s always better to talk to each other than at each other.”
Reporter
“No, the fundamental of the proposal, as I understand, it’s three and a half percent in October of this year, and then another unnamed amount at the start of fiscal, of the next fiscal. Is that the heart of the proposal?”
Henry Charles
“So you’re speaking to only one item on the seventh point, One of seven.”
Reporter
“Just look at the money.”
Henry Charles Usher
“Yeah, of course. No, it’s a three percent salary adjustment in starting in October and then in April or the start of the next fiscal year. The unfreezing of one of the increments that were frozen during the covid time. So remember that there were two increments that were frozen. The unfreezing of one of those will be done or is being proposed to be done at the next fiscal year starting of course April first, 2026. And then the remaining conversation has to do with the 5.5% since three. Is being done in October and the second increment. So that is where further discussion is needed. And of course, you have to look at the performance of the economy. You have to look at the ability to be able to implement those salary adjustments going forward. But the idea, and what we discussed around the table is that it will be done in three, in a three-year time frame.”