Unions turn down minister's plea

The organisations yesterday issued a press statement, in reaction to one issued earlier by the minister, expressing their disappointment in the way the issues leading to the protest action have been handled.

The minister, in a press release on Sunday, stated that from the engagement with workers, which has been ongoing for some weeks, a number of issues are still under consideration by various structures which are set out in the enabling legislation.

He said the only issue that is unresolved was the composition of the Tender Board.

The minister explained that in government’s view, this is not an issue that should require the workers to strike.

However, the labour unions (comprising of SNAT, SFU and SFL) said the minister’s statement is not true.

They made an example of scholarships where they allege that the minister told them that government regarded the scholarship policy issue as closed.

"This is despite that as workers we had written to his office on February 12, 2010 requesting to be given an opportunity to make our input to the policy," they said.

They also noted the issue of taxation where they feel there has been a lack of urgency regarding the reversal of the three per cent taxation to low income earners.

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