By Prince Moore
The Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions [JCTU]] and the Ministry of Finance are again at loggerheads over pay increases for public sector workers.
The JCTU expressed fresh concerns over a statement by Minister of Finance, Fayval Williams during an interview on Tuesday.
Mrs Williams reportedly said the majority of public sector workers were already given 7.5 per cent increase for fiscal year 2025/2026 and that it's not back money.
The JCTU has come out against that statement, claiming that it is inaccurate.
The umbrella union group has therefore repeated its call for the Ministry to cease what it says are misrepresentations of outstanding obligations as new benefits and to uphold the spirit of good-faith industrial relations.
In a release, the union says the 7.5% increase being referenced results from the movement of eligible public sector workers by up to three increments on their salary scales.
It says this is not a newly negotiated increase for the 2025/2026 fiscal year, but a deferred entitlement flowing from the previously agreed 2022-2025 Public Sector Compensation Restructuring process—a commitment that was implemented without retroactive effect.
According to the JCTU, this adjustment was agreed to on September 12, 2024, under former Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke.
The JCTU says the formal wage claim for the 2025-2028 compensation cycle was submitted in November 2024, two months after the agreement to move increments had already been finalized.
This is why the union says it is inaccurate and misleading for the Ministry of Finance to present the 7.5?justment as a response to the JCTU's current claim.
The union says repeated public mischaracterisations of this nature only serve to "disharmonize" the relationship between the Ministry of Finance and the Confederation, and sow unnecessary confusion and frustration among public sector workers who expect transparency and fairness.
comments powered by Disqus
All feeds
