JTA, Police Federation dismayed by pay hike for political directorate

 

The Jamaica Teachers' Association and Jamaica Police Federation have reacted with alarm to the massive salary hike for the political directorate.

 

JTA President La Sonja Harrison says teachers are not envious of the salary packages of other civil servants.

 

But Mrs Harrison says there are some teachers who are yet to get their retroactive salaries and have only received their basic pay. She says this is among several unresolved issues from the compensation review. 

 

"There are teachers today, the remote inducement allowance needs treating with, how the temporary allowance has been applied needs treating with. There are other matters outstanding and these matters cannot be dealt with at the Ministry of Education level, they have to be dealt with at the technical level with the Ministry of Finance where the negotiations take place," she complained. 

 

She said the JTA sent a letter regarding these issues to the Finance Ministry on April 18, but the association has not yet been called to the table. 

 

At the same time, Corporal Rohan James, Chairman of the Jamaica Police Federation, said rank and file members are up in arms.

 

Corporal James said the government's trust deficit has widened. 

 

"Persons needs to do some serious introspection as to the damage that this will cause in terms of relationship and communication as well as productivity. You cannot ask persons to make sacrifices but you are not making the ultimate sacrifice," he argued.