ARMED WITH AN expanded set of proposals, the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) will meet with the Ministry of the Civil Service on Monday to try to save the 3 000 jobs set for retrenchment between January 15 and March 1.
After a three hour and 15-minute meeting which got heated at intervals at the NUPW’s Dalkeith headquarters yesterday, NUPW general secretary Dennis Clarke and president Walter Maloney said the union would meet with the ministry next week to negotiate and submit its proposals in order to come up with a definitive plan in “the small window” between now and January.
“After we have our first round of talks, we will be in a position to say something definitive,” Clarke told reporters after yesterday’s meeting with more than 200 temporary public sector employees.
Stating that the aim of yesterday’s meeting was to update workers and get their feelings on NUPW proposals, he said the union would take any new ideas offered yesterday to the Ministry of the Civil Service.
Clarke declined to give the proposals offered by the temporary workers, but sources said they included voluntary retirement; amendments to Cap 25 and 38 (4) of the Pensions Act which would allow officers to receive their pension and gratuity at age 60; incentive for early retirement at age 55 which would include one year’s salary in bonds; reduction of the work week; giving up of one month’s salary in a year; and the equal distribution of layoffs between central government and statutory entities.
