Gov't going ahead with payment of wage increase despite JTA's concern

The government is going ahead with plans to pay this month, the wage increase it has agreed with some public sector unions to all workers, including those who have rejected the deal.

The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) has taken issue with the payment of the five per cent increase, which will cover the first year of the four-year deal.

It says the move is unprecedented in light of the fact that the current salary negotiation has not been concluded nor a Heads of Agreement signed.

The JTA says if the payment is made this month it would view the action of the Finance Ministry as being tantamount to union busting and a breach of Collective Bargaining Rights.

But speaking at a press conference this morning, Finance Minister Shaw insisted the payments have to be made before the end of the fiscal year.

Yesterday, during the budget debate, Shaw defended the increases saying they were fair.

The wage agreement provides for an increase of five per cent in year one, two per cent in year two, four per cent in year three, and five per cent in year four.

Shaw argued that when combined with annual performance-based increments of 2.5 per cent, the offer represents a combined increase of 26 per cent over four years.

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