Around that time, a document from the staff members read, “In addition, we also welcome your recognition that employees at the NIC are currently working in an environment of mistrust, one that has been in existence for a very long time and as such, your assurance that all matters would be put to rest within one week is timely, appreciated and accepted. In so doing, we will ensure that normalcy returns to the operations of the Corporation immediately. We look forward to our urgent engagement with the N.I.C”. The strike action, however, continued for a week since their demands were not yet met.
On August 7th, 2023, some four months later, an agreement was met. Over one hundred workers employed within the company’s social security network will benefit from the following provisions:
- 9% general wage increase spread over three years; 4% in Year 1, 3% in Year 2, and 2% in Year 3, along with backpay compensation for over one year
- Review of salary scales within three months
- Length of Service Recognition compensation
- Increase in Vehicle Allowance to $1100 and Mileage Allowances to $1.75 and $4.00 (casual)
- Vehicle Loan Facility extended to employees with thirty (30) years plus service
- Laundry Allowance to Drivers and the Archives Unit
- Improvement in Health Insurance contributions to Employer 60% Employee 40%
National Workers Union Secretary General, Johann Harewood stated that all arrangements will be made to have the new industrial agreement signed before the Labour Commissioner as soon as possible to facilitate the implementation of the new provisions.