Police federation accepts Government’s latest wage offer

The Jamaica Police Association has reportedly agreed to accept the latest salary offer as part of the government’s compensation review, despite reports that the virtual vote on the offer was marred by technical glitches.

Around 80 percent of the association’s delegates voted to accept the offer to review compensation at a virtual meeting on the Zoom platform on Thursday.

It was reported in the media that federation delegates would meet on Sunday to discuss developments regarding the vote to accept the offer and it was alleged that the vote may have been obstructed.

In a message to members on Sunday, the association’s chairman, Corporal Rohan James, said: “There will be no emergency meeting (on Sunday) with ordinary members.”

He apologized for the “inconvenience” caused.

It is not clear if other federation delegates will attend a meeting despite subsequent clarification from James.

The federation did not publicly share the details of Thursday’s vote.

However, in a leaked message to rank-and-file officials, James said: “Based on the results of the polls conducted, the Central Committee (of the Police Association) will formally write to the Ministry of Finance and Civil Service (MOFPS) to advise them on the members’ decision.” inform.”

Also in the statement to police officers on Friday, March 17, James wrote: “The meeting, which we have to admit had several disruptions due to power outages and loss of internet connectivity, and ended minutes after the presentation was completed.”

Following the presentation, Assembly members were asked to vote online on whether to accept accommodation on or without a basic salary and whether to accept or reject the Government’s latest wage offer as presented.

At the end of the online poll, 86 percent of respondents voted to accept the offer as presented, while 14 percent voted to reject the offer.

When asked whether an apartment should be accepted at base salary, 60 percent of respondents agreed, while 40 percent rejected this particular offer.

James assured the rank and file members that they would be kept informed of any further events.

The government had submitted a revised salary offer to the association after several previous offers had been rejected, with Finance and Public Service Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke, were sometimes heavily criticized.

Clarke had on numerous occasions given public sector workers until March 31 to receive the new salaries and the retrospective amounts.

He said failure to sign the wage offer on time would result in back payments not being reflected in the 2023-2024 budget, but being paid in parts over several upcoming budget cycles.

Meanwhile, it was previously reported that the Police Officers’ Association (POA) had turned down a revised salary offer to its members.

The POA represents Gazetteed officers of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) from the rank of Deputy Superintendent through Commissioner.

The association, through its chairman, Senior Superintendent Wayne Cameron, had insisted that it was not concerned with meeting the Treasury Department’s deadline.