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By Nakinskie Robinson
The Ministry of Finance and the union representing municipal contract workers have signed a new deal.
This development came after municipal workers across the island threatened to strike over the failure of the government to fulfill its commitment to convert their terms of engagement to permanent employment.
The Jamaica Association of Local Government Officers [JALGO], the union representing the workers, said they were being paid minimum wage.
JALGO and the Local Government Services Commission met on Tuesday in a bid to stave off the industrial action.
The agreement, which was finalised on Thursday, takes effect on December 1 and lasts until the end of the current financial year in March 2025.
Helene Davis Whyte, General Secretary of JALGO, told Radio Jamaica News that the Local Government Services Commission agreed to make the relevant information available in time to facilitate the December payment, while the Ministry of Finance & The Public Service also agreed to provide the funds needed for the payment to be possible.
"Arising from that, the workers agreed to maintain normalcy," she said.
Mrs Davis Whyte said the new rates will reflect those of the current compensation review package for each worker's level of employment.
The Agreement was also signed by the Ministry of Local Government & Community Development.
The workers had mandated the union to serve a 72-hour strike notice, which expired on Wednesday.
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