Sacrifice for national security
Police finally ink wage deal with the Government
Published:Wednesday | February 23, 2022 | 4:54 AMJudana Murphy/Staff Reporter
Ninety-eight per cent of public sector workers have now signed on to the Heads of Agreement for wage increase and improved benefits.
The latest group to accept the terms of the agreement is the Jamaica Police Federation, which inked the deal yesterday at a ceremony at the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, agreeing to an offer of four per cent on wages and salary-related allowances, for the contract period April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022.
Chairman of the Police Federation, Corporal Rohan James, said its members endured several “painstaking discussions” before agreeing to accept the wage offer.
“It is not that we are satisfied but we are making a sacrifice in the interest of national security and the people of this country. Based on the information that we are privileged to, we are going to ensure that we hold true to form and the Government accountable to its word,” he said.
It is reported that the police union brought some 53 proposed benefits to the negotiation table.
“I can confirm that 16 of the items that were brought to the table have been addressed favourably and we are hoping that the others will be favourably considered in the next financial period that we will engage in negotiations,” James said, adding that he could not disclose the terms of the agreement.
Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke said achieving agreements with the majority of public sector workers is a testimony to the social cohesion of the Jamaican society.
Clarke said this paves the way for the implementation of the restructuring of public sector compensation, slated to commence in the upcoming financial year.