PM urges public sector workers to desist from strike action
ST JAMES, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness is urging public sector workers to desist from taking industrial action which he says further complicates the issues they are facing.
“We are trying to solve that equation that is very complex, so I urge everyone not to make the situation more complicated than it already is,” Holness said during his keynote address at the official handing over ceremony of the Jamaica Fire Brigade Area 4 Headquarters in Montego Bay, St James on Friday.
The prime minister added, “It is one pool of revenue, and if we do anything to stop flow of revenue into that pool, there will obviously be less for us to debate about how it is to be shared up.”
Holness’ comments came on the heels of a two-day strike by some 2000 National Water Commission (NWC) workers and a day after 12,000 passengers were left stranded as the island’s air traffic controllers walked off the job.
“We must not bring crisis onto ourselves because the posture of the Government is not an antagonistic one. The posture of this Government is to take on the challenges, but to do so in a respectful way because we recognise that the power of the Government does not only lie in the authority of legislation, but it really lies in the people,” Holness added.
He continued, “When the people act reasonably, everyone benefits.”
Earlier today, workers at the National Housing Trust walked off the job. The workers are now protesting outside the NHT’s head office in New Kingston
The workers are protesting a long-standing delay of the implementation of a job evaluation which was finalised in 2021.
RELATED STORIES:
WATCH: NHT workers walk off the job
WATCH: ‘No money, no water’ – NWC workers demand raise of pay
