Some unions accept wage freeze

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has thanked public sector workers for the understanding that they demonstrated over the long and difficult 2010/2012 wage negotiations.

The negotiations culminated with the signing of the heads of agreement with public sector unions and associations for the 2010-2012 contract period.

At the signing ceremony at Jamaica House today, Mrs Simpson Miller said the agreement holds the government to a programme of low redundancies for the civil service.

She also hinted at the direction for on-going discussions saying that housing solutions for public sector workers would be addressed; and pension reforms will now consider the position of a district constable as a pensionable post.

In her remarks, vice president of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions, Helene Davis Whyte, said that the public sector workers were "not happy but will play their part".

Mrs. Davis whyte says the confederation will be moving towards new approaches to negotiations, including "interest-based bargaining".

Among the bargaining units that signed the agreement were the Nurses Association of Jamaica; the Jamaica Civil Service Association; the Union of Schools Agricultural and Allied Workers; the Jamaica Workers Union; the Union of Technical Administrative and Supervisory Personnel; several unions representing educational officers and librarians; public health inspectors and paramedics; air traffic controllers and correctional officers.

Negotiations for the 2012 period have started.