Prison warders’ supper allowance dispute settled
THE Department of Corrections has moved to quell the disquiet that was brewing among officers over the non-payment of supper allowances, for which they had made claims.
According to General Secretary of the Jamaica Federation of Corrections, Leslie Campbell, the workers had been disgruntled because the Finance and Planning Ministry recently stipulated that supper allowances would only be applicable to persons who worked up to 7:00 pm. Previously, persons who worked beyond 3:30 pm up to 5:00 pm could claim the allowance.
Campbell said officers had not been aware of the proposed changes, sent in a circular, dated September 15, and so were surprised when their emoluments did not reflect their claims last Friday.
But Commissioner of Corrections Major Richard Reese told the Observer that a compromise was reached on Tuesday during a meeting with the three unions representing the workers – the University and Allied Workers Union (UAWU), the Jamaica Federation of Corrections and the Senior Uniformed Officers Association.
Reece said following consultations with the Industrial Relations Unit of the Finance and Planning Ministry, it was agreed that all claims for September and for October 1 to 17 would be paid.
However, effective October 18 processing of all supper claims will have to comply with the Finance Ministry’s guidelines, which stipulate that a supper allowance is payable after 7:00 pm, provided that the duty ends at five.
Reece said it was also agreed that the
unions would pursue the matter of supper allowance entitlement/eligibility as part of the ongoing 2006-2007 wage and fringe benefit claim negotiations with the ministry.
And in response to reports that several correctional officers have been suffering from mental illnesses, the Commissioner of Corrections said there were no more than five members of staff who had been diagnosed with a mental condition.
“We have 2,500 staff and I don’t think we have more than five members of staff, currently, who have a mental illness such as depression or anxiety.
“Information available to me of the cases I have knowledge of is that it is not job- related,” Reese told the Observer, adding that the current policy for staff with medical or psychiatric complaints is to have them evaluated and treated.
Added Reese, “the department does not release information on correctional officers’ medical status and the department is not aware of any relationship between job assignments and mental illness.”