The Grenada Trades Union Council (GTUC) has set December 17 as the date for a crucial meeting of all affiliates to discuss the planned introduction by government from January of a 5% tax on workers salary to be known as the Reconstruction levy.

Informed sources told GRENADA TODAY that the meeting to be held at the T.A Marryshow Community College (TAMCC) in St. George's is expected to see the trade unionists come up with a "hardline approach" on the issue.

A source who spoke to this newspaper on condition that he was not identified said that most of the unions who are members of the TUC are opposed to the 5% deduction on the salary of workers from the Keith Mitchell-led New National Party (NNP) government.

He spoke of intense debate on the issue over the past few months with the "hardliners" within the island's umbrella trade union body seemingly winning the battle against the moderates who were calling for dialogue with the administration on the proposed new tax.

According to the official, the Mitchell government has failed to engage in any form of discussions with labour leaders on the 5% tax despite of letters sent to Education and Labour Minister Claris Charles.

"We had approached the Minister (Charles) to talk about the issue and she informed us that we should send her a position paper before any discussions could be held", he said.

"Well, we sent her the paper and up to now neither she nor the Prime Minister held any talks with us on the matter", he added.

The source stated that the unions had put forward some suggestions of its own to government on alternatives to the 5% tax which they would have liked to discuss with the regime.

He pointed out that the hardliners within GTUC were calling for a tough stand on the issue from the beginning because of "their distrust of the government".

He said these people are now saying openly "that we told you so that the government is not listening and interested in any dialogue with the trade unions on the issue".

The official warned that the country could be plunged into uncertainty if the Mitchell government goes ahead with plans to impose the 5% levy of the salary of workers.

He spoke of a recent meeting held by the TUC with teachers in St. Andrew's and it ended with them chanting: "Come with it (the levy) and we go walk the streets in January".

The source indicated that GTUC is already not happy with the manner in which government was spending money from the controversial Vote 340 on persons who are given highly paid contracts to work as public officers.

He accused the Mitchell government of bringing into the service on contracts a number of persons with little or no qualifications and experience and paying them $5000.00 a month while established public officers are being paid much less on a monthly basis.

"We can call the names of a lot of people who are in the $5000 range on these special contracts from government. They also brought in a number of PRO's (Public Relations Officers), paying them $2500. 00 a month and that is more than what some civil servants are getting.

The trade union official stressed that most established officers are aware of the discrepancy in the different salary structures since they are the ones who have to make up the pay sheets of

the workers on special contract.