The agreement, covering salaries and allowances for 2001 and 2002, resolves protracted negotiations which had started since 2001 under the old management.

As part of the agreement the managerial staff will benefit from improved salaries and allowances under three new schedules which expand the scales under which each category is to be paid.

The union accepted the 15% and 10% salary increase respectively for 2001 and 2002 while agreeing to immediately commence negotiations for 2003. The management staff had benefited from an automatic increment of 3% as of January 1, 2003.

Also agreed as part of the package are increases in allowances for the managerial staff allowing them to benefit from improved conditions of employment.

One of the improvements these staff members are expected to see is a travel allowance, which is 50% of that which colleagues with cars received as of January 1, 2001, being $23,000 per month for seniors and $20,680 for juniors.

The union was also able to obtain management’s agreement on a mileage allowance once their members have to travel out of town in excess of 10 miles from base.

While they were able to reach agreement on other issues including that of an entertainment allowance, the sides were said to have disagreed on payment of double time on ‘off’ days. They both agreed to take the matter to conciliation to seek to reach agreement.

The agreement was signed at the Ministry of Labour by GPSU President Patrick Yarde, Karen Van Sluytman for the General Secretary, Principal Industrial Relations Officer, Patricia Went and Branch Chairman Michael Edghillo on behalf of the union.

Signing on behalf of management were new Chief Executive Officer, Rabindranauth Singh, New Human Resources Manager (ag), Donna Tucker and Personnel Manager, Dale DeRoy while Chief Labour Officer, Mohamed Akeel countersigned as witness.

The document also sets out systems for the termination of service on medical grounds, retirement, severance pay, downsizing and layoffs, lunchroom facilities and first aid kits.

It also examined issues associated with living quarters, medical schemes, the pension scheme and sick leave.