THE NATIONAL UNION OF PUBLIC WORKERS (NUPW) believes far more than 3 000 public sector workers will lose their jobs in Government’s proposed lay-off plans.
General secretary Dennis Clarke said although he couldn’t state any specific figures, the terminations scheduled to take effect January 15 will surpass the 3 000 figure stated, with the inclusion of staff from statutory boards and long-serving temporary public sector officers.
Clarke’s comments to the WEEKEND NATION yesterday followed Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler’s reiteration Monday that only 3 000 workers would be on the breadline in his Government’s austerity measures in a bid to stabilize the country’s economic woes.
But the NUPW general secretary in differing with Sinckler also said yesterday that one of his union’s proposals at the resumption of talks with Government tomorrow would be for some public sector workers to be sent on holiday leave while the financial aspect of their employment is sorted out.