Public workers in St Lucia reject wage freeze

Public servants in St Lucia have rejected a second proposal by the government to delay the payment of a promised five point seven million US dollar increase in salaries and wages.



Prime Minister Stephenson King had proposed paying the workers three per cent of the seven per cent owed after the public servants took industrial action last week Thursday.



The government has paid nearly half of the 14 point five per cent wage increase that was awarded to public servants earlier this year.



But the King administration has said that the global economic crisis makes it impossible for the government to find the additional funds to pay the public workers.



Public workers met yesterday to discuss the latest offer from the government, but rejected the proposal and have also agreed to stage street protests.