Why should workers suffer when Gov’t made the error?
Dear Editor
I note that the front page story of the Jamaica Observer dated July 15, 2015 discussed nurses at Bellevue Hospital being restive over what is purported to be overpayment of salaries for five years. It would seem to me that this is not a one-off occurrence and signals a systematic problem.
Some time ago the same story was carried in relation to teachers. In the case of the teachers the assumed overpayment was over seven years. As is stated in the article, no consultation was made with the nurses before the deductions were made. This was the same with the teachers.
There is no consideration given to the commitments that these categories of workers made with the view that their salaries were going to be a specific amount. From all indications, in both cases the workers were not to be blamed, the Government made an agreement and then back-pedalled. Instead of asking these people to pay back this amount the Government should seek to clean up its act.
Why should the nurses or the teachers be asked to repay the sum when it was the Government who decided to change the formula for calculating the payment and did not see it fit to consult with those who would be affected? This is subtle dictatorship.
The rush to get scarce cash is allowing the Government to abuse its workers after getting them to agree to a wage freeze for five years.
Jacky Brown
Jab55@hotmail.com