Yes! Unions upbeat workers will accept proposal to end wage freeze

Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer

TRADE UNION leaders are entering this weekend's series of meetings with public-sector workers highly confident that a government proposal will be accepted by its members even as some organisations have already began consultations.

The Government on Thursday placed a proposal to end the contentious two-year wage freeze on the seven per cent increase agreed between the administration and public-sector workers, that has clearly found favour with the trade-union leaders.

Vice-president of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions, Danny Roberts, who is the spokesman for the unions involved in Thursday's talks with representatives of the Finance Ministry, yesterday told The Gleaner that he was 95 per cent confident of a positive reaction.

"Certainly, you could say 90 to 95 per cent confident," Roberts asserted, when the question was put to him. "I have every confidence that we will come away with an agreement on Monday."

Added Roberts: "Some of the unions and professional associations will be meeting with their membership between today (Friday) and Sunday to provide an official response by Monday."