Kingstown Town Board workers fed up with pay issues

Some employees of the Kingstown Town Board are half-past fed up and believe it is high time for management to address their salary concerns.

The workers, most of whom are janitorial staff, have highlighted constant late pay as well as a promised salary increase that has not yet materialized as concerns which continue to vex them.

“They ain’t have no respect for we,” one male worker told SEARCHLIGHT.

He explained that workers are paid fortnightly and often wages are not paid until a week, and sometimes two weeks later.

One female worker complained that whenever she brings the late pay concerns to the attention of the representative union or the media, the relationship between them and management deteriorates further and they receive little to no communication about outstanding monies owed.

Another female worker revealed that after workers aired concerns on local radio in late March, they were called into a meeting with management and scolded.

The workers are also hoping to receive an update at to when they wil receive wages in accordance with new Minimum Wages Act which came into effect from March 2024.

Under the new legislation, lowest paid categories of workers in St Vincent and the Grenadines are to be paid a minimum wage of $50 per day.

“We supposed to get raise of pay and up to now they ain’t do that yet They say everybody that working for under $50 supposed to reach up to $50 and that still ain’t come through.”

As it currently stands, janitorial staff earn a maximum of $45 per day.

A male worker related that he spoke with management about when the increases are expected to start.

He said he was told that “Ralph”, referring to Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, has not provided any additional monies to cover the salary increase.

The workers are hoping that management will soon provide timely updates on wage payments and increases.