The Tongan Public Service Association claims the decision to implement a new government pay structure was unlawful.
It has sought an injunction with the Supreme Court to stop the government implementing its new salary structure.
The PSA lodged the injunction on Friday (August 7). It wants a judicial review of Cabinet’s decision to bring in the new pay scales, claiming that more than 800 grievances from government employees had not been addressed.
The PSA has named the government, the Public Service Commission and the Remuneration Authority in its claim
It said 90 percent of chief executive officers in the government had waned the new structure deferred.
Despite many written requests to the Public Service Commission and Cabinet and a petition to the King in June, Cabinet approved the new salary structure on July 1.
The PSA claimed that Cabinet’s ruling that public servants had to submit any appeals about the new salary structures to the PSC was unlawful. According to the Public Service Act, appeals should have been made to the Public Service Tribunal.
The Commission had also failed to follow the grievances procedures in the Public Service (Grievances & Dispute Procedures) Regulations, it claimed.
The PSA and the Government have been at loggerheads over the new salary scales for months.
In June Kaniva News reported that the PSA wanted the government to delay the new salary scheme for public servants until next January so that its members’ concerns could be addressed.
PSA General Secretary Mele ‘Amanaki said at the time the PSA fully supported the new pay scales, but wanted to ensure that the review was done properly.
She said this would avoid to avoid the strikes that ocurred in 2005.
“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,” she said.
The main points
- The Tongan Public Service Association claims the decision to implement a new government pay structure was unlawful.
- It has sought an injunction with the Supreme Court to stop the government implementing its new salary structure.
- The PSA lodged the injunction on Friday (August 7). It wants a judicial review of Cabinet’s decision to bring in the new pay scales.
- The PSA and the Government have been at loggerheads over the new salary scales for months.
For more information
PSA says workers’ concerns must be heard before proposed new pay scales can go ahead (Kaniva News)
