It appears the Jamaican Government is softening its tough stance on public sector wage negotiations as it plans new talks with several trade unions next week.
The unions have all rejected an offer for a six per cent salary increase over two years and told the government to only come back to the table when it has a better offer.
Teachers, police, nurses, public sector workers in general all rejected the offer to increase their wages by six per cent over two years, some calling it an insult and telling the government to do better.
The teachers even threatened strike action if the government didn't call them back to negotiations with an improved offer.
They have now received notification of a new meeting to take place on Wednesday.
High alert
Nevertheless, in a statement to teachers on Sunday, JTA President Georgia Waugh Richards declared that the Association's action committee has been placed on high alert, and "will at any time now, be sounding the abeng!"
Membes should therefore unite and "stay close" and be prepared to "stand up for what is right," she said.
The police say they have also been invited to participate in another round of talks.
But in public, the government has been pointing out that it has little room to manoeuvre, as prodded by the International Monetary Fund, it must reduce the public sector wage bill to nine per cent of Gross Domestic Product by March 2019.
.jpg)
All feeds
