Meeting called to address concerns of contract workers at municipal corporations

By Prince Moore    

 

The Jamaica Association of Local Government Officers (JALGO) and the Local Government Services Commission are to meet on Tuesday, November 26 in a bid to stave off industrial action by contract workers in municipal corporations across the island.

 

The workers are reportedly restive over the failure of the government to fulfill its commitment to transition them to permanent employment.

 

JALGO says workers are now being paid at minimum wage and, to its knowledge, are the only workers in the public sector who are paid at minimum wage.

 

The workers mandated the union to serve a 72-hour strike notice which expired on Wednesday.

 

JALGO President Helene Davis Whyte says contact was made by the Finance and Local Government Ministries indicating that the concern of the workers will be addressed. 

 

"There should be a meeting with the union and the Local Government Services Commission who really is the body that is authorised to do the appointments of the staff. And in addition, the Ministry of Labour has sought to intervene and so we expect that come Tuesday into Thursday of next week we should be in a better position. If not, I am pretty sure the workers will resort to industrial action," she warned. 

 

"So we are hoping that good sense will prevail and the long-awaited appointments and increase in pay to the contract workers will come to fruition arising from the meetings that are going to be held next week," said Mrs. Davis Whyte.