Mapp executive orders raised wages for 774 government employees, with more increases pending

The Virgin Islands Division of Personnel said on August 28, 2018, that 774 government employees were expected to receive salary increases in their August 30 paychecks under executive orders signed by Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp in July.

Government House said Mapp told Senate President Myron Jackson on August 24 that raises had been processed for about 700 employees. By the afternoon of August 27, the Division of Personnel said adjustments to 74 additional Notice of Personnel Action documents had been completed.

According to Personnel Director Milton Potter, just under 2,000 current employees were affected by the executive orders. He said the largest number of processed raises so far involved Education Department employees and firefighters, and that additional eligible employees were expected to receive increases after paperwork was completed.

The executive orders raised the public-sector minimum wage to $13 an hour, or $27,040 annually. The Division of Personnel said 1,217 employees were identified as affected by that minimum-wage increase, with more than 700 others affected by new starting base salaries.

Government House said the orders also set new starting base salaries for teachers, firefighters, corrections officers, emergency medical technicians, environmental officers, police officers, enforcement officers, social workers, Head Start teachers and other Executive Branch employees. The administration said the increases were retroactive to August 1, 2018.

Government House also said employees already earning more than the new base salaries would have their wages addressed in collective bargaining, and that meetings with union leaders were underway.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-mapps-executive-orders-raise-wages-for-2000-workers/