Correctional officers unions, finance ministry to meet over salary issues

KINGSTON, Jamaica:

Unions representing correctional officers are to meet with officials of the Ministry of Finance this morning as the workers continue to press for the implementation of a salary adjustment.



The meeting has been called for 9 o’ clock at the ministry.



The workers are represented by the Jamaica Federation of Corrections and the University and Allied Workers Union.



Chairman of the Jamaica Federation of Corrections, Arlington Turner, says the union will be going to today’s meeting with an open mind.



But he says his members remain restive and want to see the matter settled in the shortest possible time.



Correctional officers and their unions have expressed deep disappointment that the government has not granted an increase in salary and benefits.



The government has indicated that it cannot accommodate any adjustments at this time as it may affect obligations under the agreement with the International Monetary Fund.



Under the deal, the government has committed to bringing down the country’s public sector wage bill to nine percent of Gross Domestic Product by 2016.



However, correctional officers and their unions have accused the government of being unfair claiming that only firefighters have benefited from the relativity study which was carried out to align the salaries of both groups.



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