Asked in the Senate on Friday morning to provide a rationale for the Chief Personal Officer’s offer of a two percent wage increase for public servants, Acting Prime Minister and Finance Minister Colm Imbert shot down Opposition Senator Wade Mark’s question, saying he would not fall into the trap of commenting on private wage negotiations by making an injudicious statement which could be used against the government in a court of law.

“Senator Mark couldn’t be serious. I find it surprising that he would ask someone as experienced as I am, a question like that, thinking that I would fall into error,” Imbert said in response to Senator Mark’s question. 

“Negotiations for collective agreements are not conducted publicly. I will not fall into the trap of making an injudicious statement that could be used against the government in court,” he added.

The negotiations, disclosed by trade union leaders, includes  a two percent increase over the years 2014 to 2021.

The offer is as follows: 2014 – 0 per cent, 2015 – 0, 2016 – 0, 2017 – 0, 2018 – 1, 2019 – 0, 2020 – 0, 2021 – 1.