Unite the Union have issued a statement in reply to the Chamber of Commerce's recent press release on public sector pay. 

A statement from Unite the Union follows below:

Unite the Union, the union for workers in Gibraltar, has today (25th June) has called the press statement by the Chamber of Commerce on public sector pay shortsighted. 

The comment that it hopes that HMGOG keeps the public sector pay award “very low” is at best unhelpful, but it is equally shortsighted in its construct. 

Public Sector Workers, who operated throughout Covid to the betterment of Gibraltar, experienced a cost of living pay freeze from 2019 until the consolidated pay awards in 2024, of which not all public sector workers benefitted. Workers in the sector have seen a real terms loss of pay in excess of 20% over that period.

Private Sector wages did largely increase over that period and often at IRP+ levels as a result of collective bargaining by Unite. Gross Trading Profits for businesses have also grown much quicker than wages in the last few years. 

Donovan Correia Unite Regional Officer stated“The Chamber’s press statement is at best unhelpful and shortsighted. Unite will make no apologies for seeking to better terms and conditions of employment across both the public and private sectors. Gibraltar should not be a low wage economy and we should be striving for quality jobs. 

“Large parts of the private sector thrive off paying the minimum wage, which is way too low, and the misuse of zero hours contracts, this is why these two elements were in our pay claim. 

“The statement also fails to recognise that not only have public sector workers experienced a double digits real terms loss in pay since 2019, these workers spend in the private sector and the Gibraltar economy, more money in public sector pockets will mean more money spent in the private sector. The union remains focussed on achieving a decent pay increase for our members in the public sector”.