Tricked into seven per cent increase

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I write to you as a disgruntled public-sector worker who feels let down by my trade union.

Upon hearing of the 'improved offer' presented to the rank-and-file members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force by the Ministry of Finance - that will see them getting increases of between $17,044 and $27,176 monthly for officers at the rank of constable through to sergeant - I am disheartened.

To me, it seems that the other unions were tricked into agreeing to accept wage increases of a mere seven per cent over the 2015-2016 contract period. Even with the $4,000 across-the-board payment per month for other civil servants, and the four per cent in year one of the agreement, the average monthly increase would be far less than that offered to the police.

I hope the trade unions that previously agreed to the seven per cent increase will realise that they might have signed too hastily and thereby denied the workers they represent an opportunity for a more favourable increase.

Disgruntled Public Sector Worker