Trade unions not letting up in their push for 7% increase

The country's trade unions say they will not relent in their push for the 7% increase promised by the Government.

At a panel discussion at the Hugh Lawson Shearer Trade Union Institute on the University of the West Indies campus, on Friday, Kavan Gayle, President-General of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union, said although the unions will continue their discussions with the Government they will still push for an increase as well as the payment of retroactive money for public sector employees.

"Discussions on the retroactivity for the period April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2011, this is the firm position that has been put forward by the trade union movement and we will continue to maintain that position. This is the opportunity for the Government of Jamaica to restore and regain the confidence of the nation’s labour force, inclusive of public sector workers and the prevailing conditions do not lend itself to economic growth but to the contrary, serve to retard any possible financial progress," Mr. Gayle declared.

He added that once again the unions were left out of the Government’s economic planning with the announcement of the extension of the engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

This, according to Mr. Gayle, should have been union inclusive because the IMF dealings will directly affect the workers who the unions represent.  

"We believe that (the Government) went about the last one unilaterally and (they) know that if (they are) reasonable enough, (they) should understand the impact this is going to create on the workers. (They) are going for an extension, (they) are going for a further agreement and I believe that it is only reasonable to if (they) want to pursue that, despite the intent, there has to be some consultation with the trade union movement," Mr. Gayle stated.