The Department of the Interior wants the V.I. Government's public labor relations law, including Act No. 4440, to conform with the Federal public labor relations law by June 30, 2000.
The requirement is part of a memorandum of understanding submitted to the V.I. Government by Interior as a condition of continued financial and technical assistance to the V.I.
In a release from her office Delegate Donna Christian Christensen said Monday the Turnbull-James administration should "share with the people the recently signed Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Interior."
But according to Rudolph Krigger, in testimony before the Legislature Friday night, the memorandum had not been signed.
Krigger, the governor's assistant on fiscal affairs, refused to comment Monday night from his home, saying only, "I have no comment for the press."
The memorandum, which is very clear in its accountability requirements, also insists on:
– a copy of the governor's five-year financial recovery plan within 90 days of signature of the agreement.
– a 50-percent reduction in overtime expenditures from fiscal year 1999.
– a hiring freeze, with limited and "highly scrutinized" exceptions.
– a 5 percent reduction in payroll costs from fiscal year 1999 baseline costs.
– an additional 10 percent reduction of overall expenditures.
– a 50-50 cost sharing of retirement and health insurance premiums.
– elimination of five holidays.
The memorandum states that recurring General Fund deficits to a "significant extent have been aggravated" by local collective bargaining agreements in which Virgin Islands government employees enjoy greater bargaining rights than those enjoyed by federal employees.
The memorandum requires multiple levels of accountability, in the form of timely audits and reports.
Federal officials also want training provided to key managers in all departments in administration of federal grants, particularly in the area of documentation.
The last section of the agreement asks for a commitment to a program of preservation and enhancement of the "natural, cultural and historic resources of the Virgin Islands to include the establishment of a Virgin Islands Conservation Trust to maintain and manage a network of local parks and recreation areas."
Included in the enhancement of natural resources section are:
– a mentorship program through the National Park Service for UVI students, funded at $50,000 per year for three years.
– a consortium to promote understanding of the marine environment, also through UVI.
– joint planning and management of the Salt River Marine and Ecological Park.
As of publication it is not clear whether the memorandum has been signed.
