The Editor, Sir:

I find an article in this morning's paper (August 11) titled 'Gov't's approach to cops wages wrong' to be misleading and conveying the wrong impression of my conversation with your reporter. For the records let me correct this impression.

My position is that the police do not deserve the treatment meted out to them in the matter of increased salaries and fringe benefits. To continue to negotiate with the federation in a unionised context will only create barriers which the government cannot overcome. They must be treated as a special case. After all, they are the only members of the public sector who are literally dying on their jobs.

I suggest that the Minister of Finance, the Minister of National Security, the Commissioner of Police and the chairman of the Police Federation should sit and agree on proper wages and appropriate fringe benefits for these courageous officers and implement them. No MoU should militate against them being properly paid. Other unionised groups in the public sector should adhere to normal approaches.

I am, etc.,

SENATOR DWIGHT A.

NELSON, C.D., J.P.

President

Jamaica Confederation of

Trade Unions

Via Go-Jamaica