Previous Story
Education chief backs return to 2016 compensation plan
|
Posted on Jan 08 2020
Education Commissioner Dr. Alfred Ada is backing the option to revert to the 2016 compensation plan as a means to save some cash that would ultimately void the salary increase CNMI educators received back in 2017.
In an interview with Ada, following the request by the central government to reduce PSS’ budget significantly, he said there’s a silver lining that comes with reverting back to the PSS 2016 compensation plan
“We will be able to continue operations. It gives us the opportunity to be updated with our health and life insurance, our utilities, and other operational costs,” he said.
Ada said he doesn’t know how else to pull off the reduction as well as keep PSS operations afloat aside from reverting back to the compensation plan.
“It’s with a heavy heart that we have come to a difficult but necessary conclusion. This is an extremely tough decision, but considering other alternatives and the choices that we’re making, to me it’s sacrificial and the only option at this time that I can think of to have the least impact on our employees overall,” he said.
Ada said that he is aware of the repercussions if the 2016 compensation plan is implemented, including a huge loss of staff and protests to the central government.
“They can do what they want to do but I am not going to lead that way because they can pound on [the government’s] door but if they don’t have the money, what are you going to do,” he said.
Ada will meet with the Fiscal, Personnel and Administration committee today to reconvene on the topic of whether the 2016 compensation plan will be implemented or if other austerity measures can be discussed.
