Public servants, including teachers and police officers, returned to their jobs yesterday, ending a three-day strike in protest over the decision by the St Lucia government to delay the payment of salary increases this month.

The workers have accused the Stephenson King administration of unilaterally adopting the position of not honouring the 7.5 per cent wage increase and have rejected proposals that would have resulted in the payment being made over a period of time.

But the workers said they have agreed to return to their jobs so as to allow their unions to continue the negotiations with the government.

latest offer

"The civil servants are now saying that they have given the authority to the executive (of the union) to negotiate ... they have not stated to the executive what the percentage should be but they are not willing to accept anything below the latest government offer," said Civil Service Association president Joseph Desserie.