St. Lucia’s government will proceed with back pay disbursements to police officers and fortnightly paid workers represented by the National Workers Union (NWU), alongside other public sector employees, despite ongoing negotiations.
Additionally, government retirees who do not qualify for the recently approved salary increases and back pay will receive a one-time EC$500 payment.
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre made the announcement during a televised address on Tuesday night, acknowledging that discussions between the Government Negotiating Team (GNT), the Police Welfare Association, and the NWU are still ongoing. He assured that efforts are being made to resolve outstanding concerns as soon as possible.
“I’ve instructed the Government Negotiating Team to use their best efforts to ensure that negotiations on issues of concern are resolved in an amicable manner at the earliest possible opportunity,” Pierre stated.
He also confirmed that the government has received correspondence from the Trade Union Federation (TUF) and that discussions on the matters raised are in progress.
The announcement came just hours after the Office of the Prime Minister issued a statement confirming that nearly $80 million would be paid out within the next two days as part of a six percent tax-free back pay package for public sector workers in grades 1 to 18. The payments will cover the period from April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2025, with the government allocating approximately $34.5 million for this initiative.
“The back pay will be paid to all eligible public officers, fortnightly paid employees, and pensioners employed during that period,” Pierre explained.
The prime minister further confirmed that the government would begin paying the increased salaries this month, with payments set to commence on February 20, 2025. Additionally, eligible statutory bodies will receive adjusted subventions to facilitate salary increases and back pay for their employees.
Pierre acknowledged that pensioners who retired before April 1, 2022, would not benefit from the triennium salary increases and back pay but assured them they would not be overlooked.
“As a gesture of goodwill,” he announced, “the government has agreed to grant them a one-time $500 bonus, amounting to $1.5 million in total, which will also be disbursed on February 20.”
Negotiations between the GNT and TUF concluded last December, resulting in a 13 percent salary increase across two consecutive trienniums: six percent for the 2022-2025 period and an additional seven percent for 2025-2028.
Several unions, including the St. Lucia Civil Service Association, the St. Lucia Fire Service Association, the St. Lucia Medical and Dental Association, the St. Lucia Nurses Association, the St. Lucia Teachers Union, and the Vieux Fort Dock and General Workers Union, accepted the wage increase under the TUF agreement. Earlier this month, the Bordelais Correctional Officers Association also agreed to the government’s proposal, Pierre revealed.
As the government implements the back pay and salary adjustments, the prime minister urged public sector workers to enhance workplace productivity for the nation’s overall benefit.
“I expect all public sector workers to make a special effort to improve workplace productivity for the benefit of the people of St. Lucia,” he said.
“My administration remains committed to the welfare of all workers and to the overall development of our country,” Pierre added.
