Government and Unions Sign Worker Agreement

With wage negotiations for the second Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government and trade unions representing public sector employees settled, government and several other unions signed important worker agreements during the year.

            President of the Jamaica Civil Service Association, Wayne Jones, praised the centralized bargaining    component, which marked the discussions and suggested that this arrangement should be replicated in future negotiations.

            He noted that while the new agreement provided for increases in wages and salaries, “extremely high value (had also been placed) on the non-monetary benefits or developmental benefits”.

            Vice President of the JCTU, Hopeton Caven, who spoke on behalf of President, Senator Dwight Nelson, said the MOU should be “a signal to the rest of the society” to come together in the country’s interest.

Govt. and Nurses Sign

Wage Agreement

            August saw the official signing of the 2006/08 Heads of Agreement between the Government and the Nurses Association of Jamaica.

            As part of the agreement, the association consented to an increase of 19 per cent in year one and five per cent in year two. The nurses also received an increase in their professional accessories and tailoring allowance, and a decision was made to commence the process of reclassifying registered nurses in July 2007.

Police Sign New Wage Agreement

            The Government and the Police Federation, which represents members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) from the rank of Constable to Inspector, signed a new two-year wage agreement in October.

            Under the agreement, the        members of the JCF received a 19 per cent wage increase in year one and a 6.5 per cent increase in year two.

            In addition to the wage increases, the members of the force benefited from an increase in their housing    provision, special duty allowance,          detective allowance, instructor allowance, driving allowance, as well as financing for persons pursuing tertiary studies.

            Chairman of the Police Federation, Corporal Raymond Wilson, said he was satisfied that an agreement was         brokered between the police and the government, adding that he would be continuing negotiations with the government on several other issues, especially those dealing with conditions of  service and the physical aspect of the working environment.

Government and Police Officers’ Association Sign Wage Agreement

            The Government also signed a new two-year wage agreement with the Police Officers’ Association.

            Under this agreement, the    members of the Police Officers’ Association, which represents Jamaica Constabulary Force members from the rank of Assistant Superintendent to Commissioner, received a similar wage increase as their colleagues in the rank of Constable to Inspector.

            Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Jackson  outlined that in addition to the wage increases, police personnel would benefit from an increase in their uniform allowance by 75 per cent,    relocation allowance, death benefits, service pay and other technical allowances.

Govt. and JTA Sign New Wage Agreement

            The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) also signed a new two-year wage agreement with the Government in October.

            In this agreement, Principals received a 14 per cent wage increase in year one and eight per cent in year two; trained and pre-trained graduates  received 16 per cent in year one and eight per cent in year two; and             pre-trained teachers  received between 20 and 21 per cent in year one and five per cent in year two.

            Some of the other benefits that the island’s teachers received under the new agreement included, travelling allowance for teachers with posts of special responsibility; and a book, resource and technology allowance    valued at $21,000 in year one and $22,000 in year two.

Junior Doctors Get 22 Per Cent Wage Increase

            Junior doctors received a 22 per cent increase in wages over the next two years, in keeping with the 2006/08 Heads of Agreement, signed between the government and the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association (JMDA).

Under the terms of the agreement, the junior doctors were, for the first time, permitted to have private practices outside of their rostered duty hours.

            As part of the wage settlement, the junior doctors also received an increase in their emergency duty allowance and incentive payments.

Correctional Officers Sign New Wage Agreement with Govt.

            Workers in the Correctional Services received a 20 per cent increase in year one and a five per cent increase in year two as well as increases in the technical allowances and in meal allowances, as part of a two-year wage agreement signed in November between the government and the Jamaica Federation of Corrections (JFEDCO).

            Mr. Jackson said that under the new agreement with JFEDCO, Correctional workers would also benefit from a scholarship programme.

            “We have provided scholarship benefits for Correctional Officers and also to their children to access education at the tertiary level. We have also increased the death benefits from $4million  to $6 million  per annum, and that is a 50 per cent increase,” the State Minister said.

            “The package represents an attempt to improve on the various different areas and although they might not be very significant individually, when taken as a package, we feel it will impact on the life of the Correctional Officer in a meaningful way,” Mr. Jackson said.

Govt. and Udcaj Sign Wage Agreement

            The official signing of the 2006/08 wage agreement between the Government and the United District Constables Association of Jamaica (UDCAJ), also took place in November.

            Under the agreement, the district constables received a 25 per cent increase in salaries that is in line with what was offered to other policing associations.

             However, five new benefits were added to the agreement signed with the district constables. These include an education grant for dependent children who have a ‘B+’ average and need to further their education; an allowance to the constables themselves to pursue tertiary studies; service pay that is similar to the district constables’ counterparts within the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF); and an adjustment in the gratuity period, wherein persons with long years of  service will be appropriately compensated.