Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter
Rank-and-file members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) yesterday remained restive, following another round of failed wage negotiations with the Ministry of Finance and Planning.
Corporal Hartley Stewart, general secretary of the Police Federation, said Fitz Jackson, State Minister in the Finance Ministry, proposed at yesterday's meeting, that an independent body be set up to hear submissions from different bargaining groups which will include the federation.
This independent body, he said, would make recommendations to the Government, which would then decide on the salary package for these groups.
"The Police Federation is very upset at how the minister chose to conduct this morning's (yesterday's) meeting and what he put forward," said Cpl. Stewart. "Under no circumstance would the Police Federation relinquish its rights and responsibilities to negotiate on behalf of the rank and file."
He added: "Neither will we accept a position where a Government which has proven itself to be inconsistent in the past and has inconsistently fallen short of policemen's expectations in providing resources and the appropriate conditions of service to subtly become pious and do the honourable thing in relation to the police."
NO SALARY OFFER
He said that at no point in the three-hour-long meeting with the Junior Finance Minister did he make a salary offer or discuss the claims that have been before him since January.
The federation had put forward a 41-point claim in January and is seeking a 45 per cent increase in year one and a 30 per in year two, for the negotiating period 2006-2008.
Last week hundreds of rank-and-file members took protest action and stayed away from the job, to press the Government for better salary and fringe benefits.
