Civil Service Association Contemplates Next Move Over Salary Increases
The Montserrat Civil Service Association is contemplating its next move as it presses the government for a salary increase.
Members of the general body met last Thursday to back the union’s call for a 10 per cent rise in salary.
President Nyota Mulcare and her executive are seeking an audience with officials from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office FCDO who are on island this week for the Financial AID Mission.
She told the members that public servants in the United Kingdom have been receiving a 1 per cent increase on their salary year on year, while their counterparts on Montserrat last received a salary increase in 2017.
In her address to the rank and file, Mulcare also pointed to the salary structure for technical corporation officers whose remuneration, including duty allowance and inducements, dwarf those of local civil servants.
Although Governor Sarah Tucker has described the 10 per cent request as unrealistic, Mulcare believed it was a reasonable demand in light of the cost living crisis, fueled by high prices of basic food items such as bread, milk and sugar; and the high cost of energy and transportation.
Union executive Michelle Cassell says families are struggling to make ends meet on their current salaries.
Michelle Cassell.
During last week’s meeting Mrs. Mulcare appealed to the members for unity and called on them to back whatever action the CSA decides to take.
Over the next few weeks, the executive will be meeting with representatives of the various departments to discussion the next course of action the union will take.