Negotiations Unit

WHAT IS NEGOTIATIONS?

Discussions between two or more people with the aim of resolving a difference of opinion, or dispute, or to settle the terms of an agreement or transaction. It is the process of bargaining that precedes an agreement.

The Negotiations Unit serves as a secretariat to the Government Negotiating Team (GNT), which is appointed by Cabinet. The Unit is responsible for conducting research and providing reliable advisory services to the GNT, as well as the preparation and documentation of Collective Agreements between the Government of Saint Lucia and various Unions and Staff Association.

The Unit holds regular meetings with the Saint Lucia Civil Service Association to discuss matters affecting employees such as but not limited to individual grievances and conditions of work.

It operates as a mediator which seeks to foster good working relations between the various Unions and the other Government Ministries/Departments, Very often, Unions request the Ministry’s intervention in solving matters between their members and their respective Ministries.

OBJECTIVES:

  • To familiarize Ministries/Departments with the Collective Agreements.
  • To provide accurate and reliable information to the GNT.
  • To foster a stable industrial relations climate between Government and Public Sector Unions/Staff Associations

WHAT GOVERNS NEGOTIATIONS?

  • GNT’s Terms of Reference
  • Collective Agreements
  • Cabinet Conclusions
  • Legislation
  • Established Procedures & Policies. E.g: Training policy, Study Leave policy, Relocation policy

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Serve as a Secretariat to the Government Negotiating Team
  2. Liaise with Public Sector Unions and Permanent Secretaries/Heads of Department and other relevant officials to promote and clarify points of view and the addressing of any grievances that may arise (grievance monitoring);
  3. Conduct Research for the GNT – collecting, tabulating, collating, analyzing and presenting economic data pertaining to collective bargaining, grievance resolution and the dispute settlement process;
  4. Identify problems affecting the Public Service and seek to find means of addressing these problems.

TRADE UNIONS/STAFF ASSOCIATIONS WHICH THE GNT NEGOTIATES WITH:

  • Saint Lucia Civil Service Association (CSA)
  • Saint Lucia Medical and Dental Association (SLMDA)
  • Saint Lucia Fire Service Association
  • Saint Lucia Prison Service Association
  • National Workers’ Union (NWU)
  • Vieux-Fort General and Dock Workers’ Union
  • Saint Lucia Teachers’ Union (SLTU)
  • Saint Lucia Police Welfare Association (SLPWA)
  • Saint Lucia Nurses’ Association

Note: They also negotiate with the Saint Lucia Civil Service Association and the Saint LuciaTeachers Union on behalf of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College.

ACHIEVEMENTS

  • Submission of memoranda to cabinet on issues pertaining to the terms and conditions of employment negotiated with Public Sector Unions and Staff Associations.
  • Meetings with various Unions and Staff Associations to address individual grievances as well as conditions of work in an effort to foster a calm industrial climate
  • Serve as a Secretariat for the GNT:
    • provision of advisory services to the Government Negotiating Team (GNT).
    • collection and presentation of data on economic indicators.
    • Research on several pieces of legislation (Acts, Regulations, Codes, Orders etc) which would have implications on the finalization of Collective Agreements.
    • Presentation of research findings to the GNT and Trade Unions by way of Word Documents, Spreadsheets and or PowerPoint.
    • liaising with GNT and Trade Union/Staff Association members.
    • compilation of all documents for GNT meetings with trade unions such as:
      • Agenda
      • Minutes
      • Working documents