As tomorrow’s deadline looms for Cabinet to approve new pay scales for public servants, the government and the Public Service Association are at loggerheads, with both sides accusing the other of lying.
The PSA claims that it is hearing one thing from Cabinet and another from the Remuneration Authority and the Public service Commission, while the Authority claims the PSA is twisting the truth, being greedy and threatening strike action
The PSA is demanding that the government delay a new salary scheme for public servants until next January so that its members’ concerns can be addressed properly.
However, the Remuneration Authority says that it has asked Cabinet to approve its proposal from tomorrow, subject to confirmation from the Public Service Commission that ministries are able to implement a new management performance system in time.
PSA General Secretary Mele ‘Amanaki submitted a petition to Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva yesterday outlining the association’s position.
‘Amanaki said the same request had been put to a meeting of the government’s remuneration authority on April 26 and they had been assured the workers concerns would be addressed.
Yesterday she said the PSA only found out on Monday that the new salary structure would be implemented tomorrow (July 1).
‘Amanaki alleged that Remuneration Authority chair Siosi Mafi had admitted during a meeting on June 17 that they had overlooked a lot of things in the review, but would not go back to the workers and tell them what they had done with their concerns as they were following Cabinet’s direction.
She said this, and other information about a proposed bonus system she claimed to have received from the CEO of the Public Service Commission, did not tally with what the PSA understood from its meeting with the cabinet on April 26.
“The PSA fully supports the implementation of the new salary structures, but would like to ensure that the review is done properly to avoid what happened in 2005,” ‘Amanaki said.
“The PSA will strive to keep their promise to the People of Tonga that there will be no more strikes and they will negotiate through consultation.”
But the remuneration Authority claims the PSA is misleading the Prime Minister and the public.
“Mele Amanaki’s continuing fear campaign using threats of a public strike is not constructive to the Government’s commitment to accountability to tax payers,” a statement from the Authority said.
“The truth is that ‘Amanaki wants a 9% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for all public servants, costing the tax payers an estimate of$12.3 million, before the new salary structure is implemented.
“The results of the Remuneration Authority consultation will be submitted to the Public Service Commission today 30 June 2016, and thereafter to the Cabinet.
“These results will result in an update to the recommendations already submitted and approved for implementation by the Cabinet.”
The statement said ‘Amanaki had insisted the Authority tell her members individually whether their appeal for more pay had been successful before the submission to the Public Service Commission, but had refused to provide a list of those members.
A large number of public servants were not members of the PSA.
The main points
As tomorrow’s deadline looms for Cabinet to approve new pay scales for public servants, the government and the Public Service Association are at loggerheads, with both sides accusing the other of lying.
The PSA claims that it is hearing one thing from Cabinet and another from the Remuneration Authority and the Public service Commission, while the Authority claims the PSA is twisting the truth, being greedy and threatening strike action
The PSA is demanding that the government delay a new salary scheme for public servants until next January so that its members’ concerns can be addressed properly.
The Remuneration Authority says that it has asked Cabinet to approve its proposal from tomorrow, subject to confirmation from the Public Service Commission.
For more information
Tonga public servants may strike from tomorrow (RNZI, 2005)
