Virgin Islands Gov. Mapp To Forge Plan To Restore 8 Percent Pay Cut ($65M) Of Government Employees
ST. CROIX — Governor Kenneth Mapp at a press conference held at Government House here today said he believes that the Government of the Virgin Islands can and should restore the 8 percent pay cuts imposed on government employees during the former Governor John P. de Jongh administration.
A panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled in favor of unionized employees, who were represented in a lawsuit brought by the United Steel Workers Union and the American Federation of Teachers.
“This ruling makes it clear that the government cannot just break our contracts,” Rosa Soto-Thomas, president of the St. Croix Federation of Teachers, which is an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, said in mid-November. “The court’s decision should serve as a deterrent to any future attempts by the Virgin Islands Legislature or governor to adopt laws that override our members’ collective bargaining rights.”
“We will work together with our members and the other unions involved as we move forward toward a final resolution of this case,” Mrs. Soto-Thomas added. “We are grateful for the circuit court’s recognition that the government must keep the bargains it makes with the teachers, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel who educate our children, and the other workers who provide essential public services to all Virgin Islands residents. The St. Croix Federation of Teachers will pursue reimbursement for the salary withheld.”
Read more: http://viconsortium.com/breaking-news/mapp-to-forge-plan-to-restore-8-percent-pay-cut-of-government-employees/
