THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE Council (NEC) of the People's National Party has hailed the decision of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) to sign the historic Memorandum of Understanding which was agreed to recently between public sector unions and the Government.
The 18,000-strong JTA had earlier refused to sign the document, which will see a two-year freeze on salaries. On Saturday, the JTA agreed to sign the document during a meeting of its general council at the Jamaica Grande Hotel, Ocho Rios, St. Ann. However, it was not immediately clear when the JTA will sign the MoU.
At its bi-monthly meeting at the Negril Golf Club yesterday, the NEC noted the teachers' decision and paid tribute to them for their timely stand.
The NEC acknowledged the historic MoU, pointing out the opportunities it provided for Government to deal with human resources issues in the public sector and to make sure it received the requisite attention in all ministries.
WORKER REPRESENTATION
In his contribution, P.J. Patterson, president of the PNP, said the importance and significance of the MoU should not be under-estimated as it was supported by courageous union leadership across the entire spectrum of worker representation in Jamaica, regardless of any partisan political motivation. He said it therefore represented an opportunity, not in a tribal or partisan way, for the Government to reconnect with worker issues and sensitivity.
The NEC unanimously agreed on the historic nature of the MoU and the opportunities which it will provide the country. The NEC said it was in that context that it noted the teachers' decision and extended its congratulations.
The MoU will give the Government room to get its finances in order as some $5 billion will be saved during the life of the agreement. It was forged against the background of the country's deepening economic crisis. The alternative to the MoU would have been the culling of some 15,000 public sector jobs in the face of the ballooning wage bill.
