JCTU President St. Patrice Ennis - FILE PHOTO
.png)
Wage negotiations between the Ministry of Finance and the trade unions representing public sector workers have started on a sour note. This after the Finance Ministry submitted its counter-offer to the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) last Thursday.
The JCTU submitted its 2025-2027 wage and fringe benefits claim to the government last November, seeking an increase of 15 per cent in year one and 10 per cent in year two.
But the Ministry of Finance, in its counter-offer submitted to the Confederation last week, proposed a four-year contract.
The Finance Ministry has reportedly offered an increase of zero-percent in year one, 2.5 perv cent in year two, 2.5 per cent in year three and 2.5 per cent increase in the fourth year; a total of 7.5 per cent increase over four years.
President of the JCTU St Patrice Ennis told Radio Jamaica News that the offer was strongly rejected by the unions in a letter sent on Friday to Finance Minister Fayval Williams. He said his members are unhappy and the Confederation has requested an urgent meeting with the Finance Minister.
While articulating his organization's disappointment with the government's initial offer, he conceded his understanding that "that is part of the negotiating process."
Nevertheless, he said that such was the extent of his members' disappointment that they have instructed the executive body to seek clarification from the Finance Minister regarding "what format, how long and what are the parameters for the negotiations; what is the expectation of the government from these negotiations?"
Wage negotiations between parties were scheduled to begin in March, but the government had requested a delay in the talks until the end of April.
comments powered by Disqus
.jpg)
.jpg)
All feeds
