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The The Chief Personnel Officer (CPO), Ms. Stephanie Lewis, recently hosted a Cocktail Reception at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port of Spain, at which the Honourable Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, Minister of Public Administration got an opportunity to “meet and greet” with the various Executives of the Unions and Associations with whom the Office of the Chief Personnel Officer is required to negotiate. At this strategic annual event, under the theme “Celebrating Our Commitment to Dialogue”, the CPO provided a tangible expression of her appreciation to the Executives of all the major Unions and Associations for their critical role over the past year and their ongoing commitment to the deepening of the partnership process around the negotiating table. With the backdrop of great food and music, a great time was had by all.
After ten (10) meetings, negotiations between the Chief Personnel Officer, Ms. Stephanie Lewis and the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service Association (1st Division) for revised salaries and other terms and conditions of employment were concluded on November 9, 2011 with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement on revised salaries, Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) and other allowances. The negotiations were in respect of the period January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010. The Agreement provides for a 5% increase in salaries over the period January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010 (distributed 2%-1%-2%) after the consolidation of the COLA existing at December 31, 2007. For 2008 and 2009, a revised COLA of $125 per month will be paid and $145 per month in 2010. In addition, a lump sum of $3,000 for the period will be paid to each First Division officer covered by the Agreement. The Agreement also provides for increases in a number of allowances for which officers are eligible, including House, Meal and the Special Responsibility Allowance. The Association’s negotiating team was led by Mr. John Springle, President.
The Chief Personnel Officer, Ms. Stephanie Lewis and the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service First Division Officers Association led by its Acting President, Mr. Chander Sinanan, on October 31st 2011, have concluded negotiations for revised salaries and other terms and conditions of employment for First Division officers for the period January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010 with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement on revised salaries and Cost of Living Allowance (COLA).
The Parties concluded negotiations on revised allowances earlier this year.
The Chief Personnel Officer - Ms. Stephanie Lewis and the Prisons Officers’ Association of Trinidad and Tobago (2nd Division) led by its President - Mr. Rajkumar Ramroop, on September 16th 2011, signed a Memorandum of Agreement on revised terms and conditions of employment for 2nd Division prisons officers for the period January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010. The Agreement makes provision for the consolidation of the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) existing at December 31, 2007 with salary at that date plus a 5% increase in salary distributed 2% in 2008, 1% in 2009 and 2% in 2010. In addition, each employee will receive a lump sum payment of $3,000.00 and a new COLA of $125 per month for the period January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2009 and $145 per month from January 1, 2010. The Agreement, which was reached following some twenty-five (25) meetings conducted in an atmosphere of cordiality and mutual respect, also makes provision for a number of revised allowances such as House Allowance, Meal Allowance, Laundry Allowance, Proficiency and Qualification Allowance. The Association's negotiation team was led by its General Secretary, Mr. Burton Hill.
Chief Personnel Officer (CPO), Ms. Stephanie Lewis recently opened a Sensitization Workshop for the Public Services Association on the Job Evaluation Exercise for offices in the Civil Service (including the Tobago House of Assembly and Statutory Authorities subject to the Statutory Authorities Act, Chapter 24:01) at the Flamingo Room of the Hilton Hotel and Conference Centre, Lady Young Road, Port of Spain. The one-day ‘Sensitization Workshop’, co-ordinated by the Personnel Department, saw the attendance and active participation of the President of the Public Services Association (PSA), Mr. Watson Duke, and other Executive members of the PSA. The Workshop’s sessions were specially designed to provide the Association with an appreciation of job evaluations and their expected role in the conduct of the Job Evaluation Exercise (JEE). This is in keeping with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which was signed between the CPO and the PSA, on April 8, 2011, in which the parties committed to the conduct of a JEE for offices in the Service. The Sensitization Workshop also provided a tangible demonstration of the commitment undertaken by both parties to collaborate on facilitating the commencement of the process within the specified three (3) months of the signing of the MOU.
The Honourable Winston Dookeran, Minister of Finance, expressed a sincere ‘thank you’ to the members of staff of the Personnel Department for the diligent service that they provide to the Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago. He conveyed these kind words, in person, when he recently took the time to visit the Department’s Head Office, where the Chief Personnel Officer, Ms. Stephanie Lewis introduced him to the members of ‘Team CPO’. Addressing a special gathering of staff, the Minister made special mention of the recently concluded negotiation with the Public Services Association and expressed his sincere appreciation for the work that the organization continues to do, in light of the ongoing negotiations with the other Unions and Associations. He reminded staff that the Personnel Department plays a key role in the Public Service and that their good work has been noted by him and the staff in his Ministry. In addition, the Honourable Minister assured the CPO of his support of the Department’s ongoing efforts in securing a new building to accommodate its entire staff, who are housed at present in four buildings within Port-of-Spain. At the end of the meeting, he took the opportunity to ‘meet and greet’ each employee before leaving. The gesture was well appreciated by staff. Minister of Finance Circular NO. 02 of 2011 Implementation of Agreement on revised Salaries, Cost of Living Allowances and other terms and conditions of employment for officers in the Civil Service and certain Statutory Authorities for the period January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010. |
CPO THANKS THE UNIONS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO DIALOGUE
CPO & FIRST DIVISION FIRE OFFICERS SIGN AGREEMENT
CPO REACHES AGREEMENT WITH THE PRISON SERVICE FIRST DIVISION OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
CPO SIGNS MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH 2nd DIVISION PRISONS OFFICERS
CPO HOSTS JOB EVALUATION WORKSHOP FOR PSA EXECUTIVE
MINISTER OF FINANCE VISITS THE PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT AND SAYS “THANKS”