Unions, Gov't sign off on wage freeze

Two of the island’s major trade unions which represent public sector workers have urged the Government not to squander the sacrifice of civil servants who have agreed to forego a wage increase.

President of the Jamaica Civil Service Association, O’Neil Grant and Helene Davis-Whyte, Vice-President of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions, said it was a difficult decision for the unions to accept another round of wage freeze.

This morning the Government, the JCSA and the JCTU signed an agreement for wage restraint for another three years.

This will mark five years that public sector workers will be operating under a wage freeze.

In his remarks, Grant said the JCSA accepted the wage freeze in the interest of the country and called for other unions to come on board.

At the same time, he said his membership is against another wage freeze.

And for her part, Davis-Whyte said while it was a difficult decision, the JCTU had to make the sacrifice.

She said the union and workers want to see tangible economic programmes to grow the economy.

Meanwhile, Minister with responsibility for the Public Service, Horace Dalley expressed appreciation to the unions for their support.

He said the Government is committed to honouring the agreement signed today with the trade unions and thank them for their sacrifice.

Wage restraint is one of the prior actions the Government must achieve, if it is to ink a deal with the International Monetary Fund.

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