Minister Pleased with Wage Settlement

KINGSTON — Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz says he is pleased that the Government and Trade Unions representing public sector workers have finalised an agreement on the long-standing wage issue.

“This has been a long protracted negotiation and now that it is completed, it will give a level of stability in terms of moving the country forward on the economic path that we have set out,” he said.

Mr. Vaz was speaking at the post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, today (July 6). The Minister also commented on the manner in which the negotiations were carried out, noting that, “the level of maturity has raised the bar, because the unions, the public sector groups, and the people affected have definitely put the country above self,” he said.

The government and the unions are set to sign the Heads of Agreement on Thursday, July 7. The government’s offer is to pay the seven per cent wage increase, due from 2009, as follows: institute the wage increase on the regular pay day in September, 2011; of the five months retroactive amount from April to August, 2011,  pay one month with the September payment and four months in December, 2011.

The outstanding amounts for the two years, 2009 to 2010, and 2010 to 2011, totalling $21.1 billion, will be paid in five equal installments of $4.22 billion in May and October, 2012, May and October, 2013 and May, 2014.

By ALPHEA SAUNDERS, JIS Reporter