EFFORTS to arrive at a settlement in the protracted wage talks between Government and the Trade Union Federation (TUF) received a further setback Wednesday when the general membership of the Civil Service Association (CSA) rejected the four per cent increase with conditions proposed by the Government and earlier accepted by teachers and police.

President of the Civil Service Association Mary Issac said the general membership felt that conditions highlighted by the Government was more of a smoke screen and would represent empty promises.

“There was nothing concrete in their proposal that satisfied the members. It was more like empty promises presented to civil servants. Also, the members noted that accepting the four per cent increase would not be beneficial to officers in grades one to five. Yes, the teachers and police may be willing to accept this offer, but bear in mind that these officers’ salaries start at grade seven,” she noted.

Issac said members which fall under the TUF umbrella must all agree to a common decision in order for negotiations to come to a closure.

A CSA statement issued at the end of Wednesday’s meeting noted that the information provided by the media by certain individuals were used as scare tactics so that the other unions accept the four per cent.

“We the members of CSA moved a motion that we are willing to settle for 9.5 per cent increase without conditions this time around,” it noted.

It stated that the 16 per cent, which the association initially requested, will be negotiated at the next round, the 2013/2016 triennium.

The statement advised that the Government and TUF were to meet yesterday to consider their position, while CSA members plan to meet again today to discuss the outcome of their discussions.