PSA threatens strike, demanding big pay rise

At the end of the day we all need to make sacrifices to get this economy going, maybe settling for low increases yearly better for civil servants who choose job security over unsustainable large and sudden wage increases. And better for Government to plan ahead get their budget under control, we have debts we should already be planning to pay back.

Pou Pou to en123. yes indeed, everybody has to make sacrifices. However, is it fair for the tax paying public especially businesses and those sending remittances to continue making the biggest sacrifices? Many in these sectors (the business and the diaspora) have no security of employment and retirement benefits. A large proportion of the revenue collected by Government is spent on the salaries and perks and privileges of the civil service and Parliamentarians. Most of our development projects are being financed by aid donors who will continue to provide resources (and loans - some have to be paid back with interest) regardless of who is occupying the big chairs in Government offices and Parliament. Rather than risk the discussion becoming us (Government appointed civil servants) vs them (PSA) which can become heated, volatile and dangerous to all, there is an opportunity to include the wider community in the conversation of whether the salaries and perks & privileges of PSA members (and our Parliamentarians) should be increased.

The absence of agreed criteria that can be used to assess the productivity of the members of the Public Service Association, their specific contribution to improving the health, well-being and welfare of the people they have been serving, suggests that Tonga would benefit more if all those being paid from government revenue would agree on a voluntary reduction or a freeze on their present salaries and benefits.

To verify this observation or otherwise, between now and the elections, surveys might be conducted during large gatherings of those campaigning, questions can be asked to those undertaking the negotiations, opinions sought through mobile phones, newspapers, Talk back radio and television programmes. Who knows there may be compelling reasons provided by people as to why the salaries and benefits paid to PSA members and Parliamentarians should be increased! (lol) At the very least it might create a better understanding of the reasons given by those who are for and those who are against.

Kapau ko e hiki vahenga ko'eni na'e 'osi paasi ia mei he pule'anga he 2005, pea 'oku totonu ke fai, tatau aipe. Kapau he 'ikai ke fai, koe me'a ia 'oku ui ko e loi (corruption). Kapau ko e hiki vahenga fo'ou 'eni ia koe toki 'ai hake pe 'ehe kau ngaue fakapule'anga, pea 'oku totonu ke tuku ia mo e fakapiko, he 'oku kovi e 'ekonomika...SAIA