Civil servants to wear black in protest

CIVIL SERVANTS are likely to be wearing black to work until next Tuesday as one
of their strategies to get their pay dispute with Government settled.

The civil servants met at their headquarters, Jacisera Park, Kingston, on Wednesday to discuss new strategies. This followed the expiration of an ultimatum they served on the Minister of Finance last week, to make an offer on their demand for a new pay policy pegging their salaries to at least 80% of those paid in the private sector.

Some attending the meeting contended it was time to go ahead and take decisive strike action. But, others urging patience prevailed and it was decided that they would start by wearing black to work today, as a mark of protest against the failure of the Government to respond to their pay demand. This is to be supported by a protest march past Jamaica House on Monday, during the Cabinet's weekly session.

Response

Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA) president, Wayne Jones, warned however, that if there was no positive response by Tuesday, stronger action would follow next week.

Civil servants went to the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Heroes Circle, last week Tuesday afternoon, where Mr. Jones verbally delivered an ultimatum to Minister of Finance, Dr. Omar Davies, to resolve the pay issue by yesterday. The civil servants have been without a labour agreement for 18 months. They want the Government to implement a proposed salary adjustment, which would ensure that their salaries do not fall below 80% of those paid in the private sector, this year. The Government has supported the proposal since 1992/93, but says it has insufficient funds to meet the payment this year.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Michael Peart, who met the civil servants prior to their meeting last week, had proposed that the matter be taken to the Cabinet on September 24 and he would respond to the JCSA by September 28. Mr. Jones said the Association will await that response.

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