01-07-2008, 03:53 PM
PSA PRESS RELEASE NO. 01/08
Tuesday 08th January, 2008
PSA Office, Nuku’alofa, TONGA
GOVERNMENT FINALLY GRANTED PUBLIC SERVANTS’ LOST BENEFITS AFTER 20 MONTHS OF NEGOTIATION!
After negotiating for 20 months, Government finally paid out some of the lost benefits of the public servants before closing for the Christmas holidays at the end of 2007.
In February 2006, Cabinet cancelled and/or deferred some of the benefits of the public servants whilst at the same time still granted the same benefits to the Army and Police. These benefits included the 5% annual increments, overtime allowance and acting allowance. This decision made by Cabinet is in breach of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Cabinet and the public servants who were on strike in 2005.
Since March 2006, the PSA had tried to negotiate with the Prime Minister on behalf of Cabinet (signatory to the MOU) to return the lost benefits. To date, although the benefits have been granted 20 months later, the Prime Minister nor Cabinet has never responded to any of the requests made by the PSA.
When trying to negotiate with the Prime Minister & Cabinet in March 2006, they referred the matter to the Public Service Commission in May 2006 where it was declined in November 2006. The PSA undertook a survey of the public servants’ (beneficiaries of the MOU) views on the matter and the results confirmed that majority of the public servants were not happy with Cabinet’s decision. The results were conveyed to the Prime Minister again in May 2007. In receiving no replies from the Prime Minister still, the PSA used the members’ constitutional rights and took the matter to the highest level, the King, in July 2007. Again no reply was received from the King then the PSA informed the ultimatum to the Prime Minister again before the end of the year through the Minister of Finance.
The Prime Minister & Cabinet throughout this period, instead of addressing the problem, has been intimidating the public servants by disciplining and dismissing some of the leaders of the PSA; and frightening the public servants from involving in the activities of the PSA claiming it was unlawful (e.g. signing in the petition to the King on their grievances). This intimidation has lead to a dramatic reduction in the morale of most public servants at work.
The lack of recognition by the Tongan Government of the workers’ constitutional rights and fundamental human rights to collective agreement and freedom of association clearly indicates poor governance and the need for improvement of management skills in Government. It also clearly confirms the need for a Labour Legislation for industrial dispute settlements to avoid intimidation of workers by employers affecting the performance of the workplace/Government.
For more information, please contact the PSA Secretary General:
Mele 'Amanaki
Secretary General
Tonga Public Service Association (PSA)
Nuku'alofa
TONGA.
Tuesday 08th January, 2008
PSA Office, Nuku’alofa, TONGA
GOVERNMENT FINALLY GRANTED PUBLIC SERVANTS’ LOST BENEFITS AFTER 20 MONTHS OF NEGOTIATION!
After negotiating for 20 months, Government finally paid out some of the lost benefits of the public servants before closing for the Christmas holidays at the end of 2007.
In February 2006, Cabinet cancelled and/or deferred some of the benefits of the public servants whilst at the same time still granted the same benefits to the Army and Police. These benefits included the 5% annual increments, overtime allowance and acting allowance. This decision made by Cabinet is in breach of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Cabinet and the public servants who were on strike in 2005.
Since March 2006, the PSA had tried to negotiate with the Prime Minister on behalf of Cabinet (signatory to the MOU) to return the lost benefits. To date, although the benefits have been granted 20 months later, the Prime Minister nor Cabinet has never responded to any of the requests made by the PSA.
When trying to negotiate with the Prime Minister & Cabinet in March 2006, they referred the matter to the Public Service Commission in May 2006 where it was declined in November 2006. The PSA undertook a survey of the public servants’ (beneficiaries of the MOU) views on the matter and the results confirmed that majority of the public servants were not happy with Cabinet’s decision. The results were conveyed to the Prime Minister again in May 2007. In receiving no replies from the Prime Minister still, the PSA used the members’ constitutional rights and took the matter to the highest level, the King, in July 2007. Again no reply was received from the King then the PSA informed the ultimatum to the Prime Minister again before the end of the year through the Minister of Finance.
The Prime Minister & Cabinet throughout this period, instead of addressing the problem, has been intimidating the public servants by disciplining and dismissing some of the leaders of the PSA; and frightening the public servants from involving in the activities of the PSA claiming it was unlawful (e.g. signing in the petition to the King on their grievances). This intimidation has lead to a dramatic reduction in the morale of most public servants at work.
The lack of recognition by the Tongan Government of the workers’ constitutional rights and fundamental human rights to collective agreement and freedom of association clearly indicates poor governance and the need for improvement of management skills in Government. It also clearly confirms the need for a Labour Legislation for industrial dispute settlements to avoid intimidation of workers by employers affecting the performance of the workplace/Government.
For more information, please contact the PSA Secretary General:
Mele 'Amanaki
Secretary General
Tonga Public Service Association (PSA)
Nuku'alofa
TONGA.