A V.I. commission tasked with sorting out which workers are owed retroactive wages and retirement benefits—and how much—will hold a series of public forums this week.
Designed to give employees and retirees information on the status of the retroactive wages owed, the forums will also provide an opportunity for workers to offer suggestions on the distribution of some $45 million in government funds, according to a statement from the Division of Personnel.
Over the years, several unions have negotiated wage and benefit increases with the government, then failed to receive the wage increases due to fiscal constraints. The total amount due is estimated to be in the neighborhood of $400 million.
The Retroactive Wage Commission was established by the Legislature late in 2007, and Gov. John deJongh Jr. completed appointing its members earlier this year. The Legislature provided $45 million as a down payment toward past-due wage increases, funded from the insurance guaranty fund and secured with a letter of credit.
Each year, 5 percent of gross receipts tax paid on every insurance policy in the U.S. Virgin Islands is deposited into the fund—a pool of money that can be tapped into only if an insurance company registered to do business in the territory becomes insolvent and cannot pay its claims.
The government plans to use those funds, replacing them with the letter of credit, which will expire and become void once the fund is replenished to its legally mandated ceiling of $50 million.
The forums will meet Tuesday in the St. John Senate Chambers, Wednesday in the Charlotte Amalie High School auditorium on St. Thomas, and Thursday in the St. Croix campus of UVI’s Great Hall. All forums will be held from 6 to 9 p.m.
Each forum will be simulcast on the internet at the following websites:
STT/STJ: www.vimedia.tv
STX: www.kalalloo_live_channel.html
For more information, contact the Division of Personnel at 774-8588 or 773-0341.
