Scores of National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) members voted yesterday evening during an hour-long meeting at the union's headquarters on Dalkeith Road, St Michael, to accept the offer, but insisted that it not be what Government has apparently billed as a "one-off" payment.
The $20 million offer reflects a two per cent hike in the inflation rate over the five per cent threshold the two sides set for 2005, last year of a three-year pay agreement for public servants, according to NUPW president Walter Maloney.
"We are saying that that two per cent should be added to the basic pay (of public servants) and that it be retroactive," he told the MIDWEEK NATION.
"So we have not dismissed the $20 million that the Government is offering, but we have said that $20 million must not represent a one-off payment."
That way, "the two per cent will affect persons' pensions and gratuities", Maloney saied.
"We applaud the Government for accepting that there was a move in the inflationary rate – and so the offer of $20 million – but clearly we cannot accept the $20 million (as a one-time payment) . . . ," he stated.
He said the union would communicate its position to Government by letter today.
"I don't think there should be a fight. I think . . . our position is a fair position."
Maloney said the union was trying to "bring closure" to the last negotiations before sitting down to negotiate with Government new pay and other conditions of work for public servants.
Senior public servants and middle managers were among those who attended the meeting.