Correctional officers reject Government's 2017-2019 pay increase offer

The number of public sector groups rejecting the Jamaican Government's wage offer for the 2017/2019 contract period continues to increase.

Correctional officers have now joined other government paid workers in turning down the six per cent pay increase over two years.

The University and Allied Workers Union (UAWU), which represents some categories of correctional officers, told RJR News that wage negotiations have got off to a rocky start, with the Ministry of Finance responding to only one monetary item, offering three per cent increase salary in each year of the two-year contract period.

With the union having submitted a 34 point claim, Ashton Johnson, Senior Negotiating Officer for the UAWU, told RJR News that it was particularly disappointing that there was no movement on any other item.

“There’s no movement… there’s no encouragement or entertainment for any new item,” he complained.

Nurses

Nurses are also planning to put more pressure on the government to improve its wage and fringe benefits offer.

This was decided at Wednesday's meeting called by the Nurses Association of  Jamaica, during which the members rejected the six per cent proposal.

"We're going to be sending back another letter to the Ministry of Finance, along with the revised proposal. We're also going to be  seeking dialogue with our Minister of Health, so... by next week we're hoping that we should get a response from both ministries so that we can know what next will be put on the table to us, Carmen Johnson, President of the Nurses Association of  Jamaica told RJR News.

She said the nurses are upset about the offer that is currently on the table.