After over eight hours of negotiations on the first day of a dialogue table, Attorney General Miriam German Brito managed to end a strike by two associations of prosecutors who were demanding the fulfillment of unmet labor demands.
According to the general coordinator of the Dominican Prosecutors Association (FiscalDom), projections were made regarding salary adjustments for all members of the Public Ministry, compensation for prosecutors, competitive exams for promotions, and the sought Pension and Retirement Plan. As reported, the talks will continue to structure and concretize these plans.
It was reported that both FiscalDom and the Association of Career Prosecutors (ADOFIC) will meet with the Superior Council of the Public Ministry (CSMP) at 10am on Tuesday, 3 December 2024 to continue fine-tuning details.
Regarding the salary increase, it was tentatively projected that all members of the Public Ministry would receive a 20% adjustment starting in January 2025.
Regarding compensation, prosecutors serving as public prosecutors would receive two incentives, and members of the Public Ministry who head departments would receive RD$10,000. The incentive for prosecutors under their coordination remains to be defined.
It was agreed that the Pension and Retirement Plan will be structured by the CSMP, for which a meeting was scheduled for 14 January 2025.
It was only after three days of strikes and a warning that they would hold a vigil in front of the PGR that Attorney General German sent a communication calling for “the initiation of a Dialogue Table” to the members of the Superior Council of the Public Ministry (CSMP) José del Carmen Sepúlveda, Denny Silvestre, and Merlin Mateo, as well as other high-ranking officials.
In her letter, Magistrate Germán reiterated that she was, “as always,” more than willing to listen to the prosecutors and “take the necessary and possible actions and decisions” to create better working conditions and services.
She also urged them to engage in a “constructive, objective, and respectful” dialogue that would allow them to continue strengthening the Public Ministry.
Prosecutors across the Dominican Republic had halted court proceedings on Monday, 2 December 2024, demanding the government address a series of long-standing grievances. The strike disrupted court operations nationwide.
The prosecutors seek salary increases, promotions, and the establishment of a retirement plan. They also want the government to fulfill promises related to career advancement and judicial reforms.
“The judicial system is in crisis,” Andrés Comas, coordinator of the Dominican Association of Prosecutors (Fiscaldom) had said in justifying the strike. “The lack of resources not only affects prosecutors but also every citizen who seeks justice in the courts.”
The short-lived strike caused significant disruptions in the courts. While emergency hearings and cases involving serious crimes are still being heard, most other proceedings have been postponed.
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El Nacional
Hoy
El Caribe
3 December 2024