Mapp lifts executive-branch hiring and wage freeze in U.S. Virgin Islands

Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp lifted the freeze on non-essential hiring in the executive branch, effective immediately, according to an order issued on May 31, 2018.

The order was issued in conjunction with the submission of the fiscal 2019 budget on May 30, 2018. Government House said the proposed budget called for using increased revenue from federal disaster and mitigation aid to improve government employee salaries.

The order also allowed the chief labor negotiator in the Office of Collective Bargaining to enter wage negotiations on behalf of executive-branch departments and agencies, with increases capped at 3% per year unless Mapp gave written consent for more.

The hiring freeze and suspension of wage negotiations had been imposed under Executive Order No. 481-2017 in February 2017. Government House said the freeze did not apply to positions funded through federal grants and other non-general-fund money, emergency and public-safety positions, teaching jobs in the Education and Human Services departments, and positions required by federal court consent decrees.

Mapp also extended the U.S. Virgin Islands state of emergency through July 2, 2018. The emergency declaration was first issued on Sept. 5, 2017, ahead of Hurricane Irma.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-mapp-lifts-jobs-and-wage-freeze-in-u-s-virgin-islands/