June 22, 2001 — Karen Andrews, the administration's chief labor negotiator, explained to the Source Friday the disparity some have questioned between a widely published figure of $10 million for government workers' salary increases and a $30 million figure Andrews cited during Gov. Charles W. Turnbull's Monday press conference.
In a Monday article, the Source paraphrased the governor as saying that the territory's financial picture is looking up, and the $30 million just allocated for step salary increases can be sustained as long as the money keeps rolling in.
Andrews said the two figures have two different applications:
"The majority of the $10 million figure is primarily to go back to the table and bring expired contracts more current," she said.
The $30 million is the recurring cost of maintaining step increases for all employees with negotiated contracts, she said, and it will be in the administration's Fiscal Year 2002 budget.
Andrews said she is currently involved in talks with the Finance and Personnel Departments regarding the nuts and bolts of implementing the step increases.