Members of the police force protested over poor salary structure outside the Financial Centre in Roseau. The protesters were led by Jefferson Drigo, chairman of the Police Welfare Association (PWA). Speaking on behalf of the protesting officers, Drigo said PWA is not pleased with the manner the government is handling their salary structure.
Wearing black attires and marching through the streets of Roseau, the dis satisfied officers said they are sending a strong message to the government to address the salary situation or cope with disgruntled officers. According to Drigo, “We are going to write a letter to them informing them of our disappointment and their disrespect, and we will take it from there.”
The police protest was captured by members of the public on video and posted on various social media.
Meanwhile, the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) has also expressed dismay at the turn their salary negotiation with the government has taken. Executives of the union have scheduled a closed-door meeting on Thursday before a general meeting next week Tuesday on the way forward. The union said they had met with the government five times over the salary issue without any reasonable results.
DPSU’s salary demand is for the three years of 2018 to 2021. The union wants a one-off payment which is equal to their two months salaries or 2.5% for the year 2018/2019; they want an increment of 5% for the year 2019/2020; and another 5% for 2020/2021. Apart from this salary demands, the union also wants increment in the allowance concession for import duties on vehicles used by nurses, and pension increase for eligible retirees.
Employees of the Public Works Corporation reported that their salary structure has remained stagnant for nearly 10 years, and those in the DASPA and Solid Waste Corporation said the government has not been cooperative in the negotiations for better salary structures. All the sectors of the public service are gearing for a confrontation with the government over these salary negotiations. The government is yet to respond to this latest development.
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