A brewing crisis over back pay disbursements has exposed deep divisions between Trinidad and Tobago’s government and public sector unions. Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo confirmed on December 5th that only Public Services Association (PSA) members would receive partial back pay before Christmas, leaving other unions empty-handed despite previous agreements.
The announcement, made outside the Red House before a House of Representatives sitting, immediately drew fierce criticism from union leaders. Contractors and General Workers Trade Union president Ermine De Bique-Meade expressed profound disappointment, accusing both Tancoo and Chief Personnel Officer Dr. Daryl Dindial of “playing games with the lives of workers” at the San Fernando City Corporation.
Simultaneously, TT Unified Teachers’ Association president Crystal Ashe appealed directly to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for intervention, referencing her frequent claims of unparalleled affection for the nation’s workers. Ashe emphasized that teachers had honorably accepted a five percent salary increase for 2020-2023 back in April, yet nine months later, no payment mechanisms had been established.
The situation grew more contentious when Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar addressed the Lower House later that day. While reaffirming her government’s commitment to paying PSA members their promised ten percent settlement—including a Christmas cash advance against the $3.8 billion total arrears—she notably omitted any mention of other unions’ pending agreements.
This selective approach has created widespread frustration among workers who made financial commitments based on government assurances. Union leaders argue that the delayed payments effectively diminish the purchasing power of earned wages, particularly concerning during the holiday season when financial pressures intensify. The developing situation suggests growing tensions between the administration and public sector workers that may escalate without prompt resolution.