Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
DESPITE YESTERDAY'S resumption of regular duties by hundreds of rank-and-file policemen and women, who had participated in a 47-hour sick-out for an improved wage and fringe benefits offer, the Government is yet to respond to the Police Federation's willingness to return to the bargaining table.
"We are sitting patiently, waiting on the government to call a meeting," chairman of the Police Federation, Corporal Raymond Wilson, told The Gleaner yesterday.
The talks between both parties broke down on Monday, June 27, when they had their last meeting. Since then, no date has been set for the parties to continue their negotiations.
FEDERATION WANTS MORE
On Tuesday, hundreds of rank-and-file members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force stayed off the job, while others staged a mass sick-out. At present, the Government is offering each member of the federation a one-off payment of $40,000, but the Federation is demanding $200,000 for each member.
Cpl. Wilson said the federation was not opposing the one-off payment, but expressed concern about the principle.
In the meantime, Opposition Spokesman on National Security, Derrick Smith, is calling for the intervention of the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Horace Dalley, in the current wage dispute.
He is urging Minister Dalley to use the facilities of his conciliatory machinery to resolve the dispute. Mr. Smith noted that the negotiations have been dragging on for the past 14 months.
Reports reaching The Gleaner are that rank-and-file police from the rank of constable to inspector, are threatening to take further action, if nothing is done to resolve the dispute.
