Nagra Plunkett, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE JAMAICA Police Federation says it will not be subjected to the conditions of the recently-signed second Memorandum of Understanding (MoU2) between Government and public sector workers.
"We will not be constrained," said General Secretary Corporal Hartley Stewart. "We've borne the burden too long, we have worked too long and hard. We want the burden to be lifted now."
Corporal Stewart was giving his report to delegates at the 63rd annual Jamaica Police Federation conference at Starfish Resort in Trelawny on Thursday.
During his presentation, he said the central executive, in its 40-point wage claim for 2006-2008, has asked for a 45 per cent increase in the first year and 30 per cent in the second year.
The federation will also be continuing dialogue with the Ministry of National Security for the implementation of a 40-hour work week and better working conditions for its members.
Derrick Smith, Opposition Spokesman on National Security, again called on Government to treat the police as a special case outside of the other civil servants bound by the MoU.
"The Opposition position is that there ought not be any restriction as far as members of the police force is concerned," Mr. Smith stated. "They have been, and they continue to, and we expect them to continue to do a special job in this sort of a very wicked and crime-infested environment."
