The general pay increase proposed by President Hipolito Mejia will be the subject of a meeting today between representatives of the labor unions and the private commercial sector. Rafael Abreu, head of the Workers General Central (CGT) said that the representatives 28 labor unions would meet with the National Business Council (CONEP) to consider options for across-the-board salary increases for both public and private employees. Abreu said that a 35% increase is in order and dismissed as inadequate the 10% figure proposed by PRD Party President Hatuey Decamps, as well as the 15% figure suggested by the National Entrepreneurs Union (UNE). Abreu also insisted that any increase would need to include pensioners. He affirmed that the increase in the cost of gasoline and other petroleum-derivatives, along with September?s official 2.2% devaluation of the peso, has occasioned a general increase in prices, causing a 25% decline in the purchasing power of the average salaried employee.
