PSU Files Industrial Action Notice over SARA Transition

The Public Service Union (PSU) has formally initiated industrial action procedures in opposition to the government’s transition of the Tax Service Department into a Semi-Autonomous Revenue Authority (SARA), citing risks to job security and employee benefits.

The Ministry of Labour confirmed that the notice was received on Wednesday and is under review. Chief Executive Officer Valentino Shal said the ministry is preparing an official response and will hold internal discussions to determine the appropriate next steps.

The union’s president, Dean Flowers, confirmed that the move follows repeated but unsuccessful attempts to engage the government on the matter. He contends that the administration has failed to adequately address staff concerns or provide sufficient evidence to support its claims of increased efficiency and revenue under the new model.

While the Prime Minister has defended the transition as vital for modernizing revenue collection, Flowers has indicated that the union is following the legal framework before any escalation. “As an essential services department, the law mandates that we give the Minister of Labor an opportunity to try to resolve the impasse that clearly now exists,” he said.

The PSU has not yet announced specific timelines for further action but signaled that various forms of industrial activity are being considered. A strike remains a last resort, but the union maintains that the government’s current approach could jeopardize both employees’ livelihoods and public revenues.