Gov’t. and NAJ Sign Wage Agreement

The Government of Jamaica, today (October  30), signed a heads of agreement with the Nurses’ Association of Jamaica (NAJ), for a wage increase and improved benefits, for the 2015/17 period.

The signing, held at Jamaica House, was the seventh in a series of agreements with public sector workers. The nurses agreed to a seven per cent  increase in salaries for the contract period, with a four per cent increase in the first year and the remaining three per cent in year two.

Prime Minister,  the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, who signed the agreement, offered gratitude and commendations to the members of the NAJ for their patience and understanding.

Mrs. Simpson Miller said she is pleased that the nurses see the importance of supporting the country’s Economic Reform Programme (ERP), by accepting the Government’s offers.

“We appreciate the yeoman sacrifice that our nurses give daily in order to provide world-class service to the nation and therefore regret that we are not able to afford to give all that is requested and that you so truly deserve,” she said.

The Prime Minister pointed out  that the approved increases have been given on all allowances.

Mrs. Simpson Miller said the Government will be facilitating the extension of the Standby On-Call allowance to Regional Nursing Supervisors, Senior Public Health Nurses and other Public Health Nurses involved in Hotel and Hospital Active Surveillance.

She also said the outstanding amount for the Health Sector Reclassification exercise will be paid over to the nurses and other health sector workers in November 2015 and January 2016.

Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, in his remarks, said this signing brings to over 90 per cent, the total number of public sector workers who have agreed to the 2015 to 2017 contract.

Dr. Phillips said he is hopeful  the others will be concluded with a similar spirit of reason and commitment to country.

“As resources increase, we are committed to sharing that increase with the public sector workers of Jamaica,” he said.

President of the NAJ, Janett Coore Farr, thanked the Ministries of Health and Finance for enabling the signing of the agreement, noting that her passion is to ensure that more nurses remain in Jamaica.

Also at the signing were Minister with responsibility for the Public Service, Hon. Horace Dalley, and Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson.