The Editor, Sir:

I have read your editorials on a number of occasions since the tabling of the Estimates of Expenditure in Parliament and throughout the Budget debate. One of the points that you have raised consistently is the need for the Government to trim the size of the public sector by cutting a number of jobs.

I do agree that this needs some urgent attention and the prime minister made mention of it during his presentation. But one of the things that has puzzled me during this recession is the attitude of some trade unionists and wage negotiators. I cannot believe that after the Government had announced a wage freeze, that some public-sector unions have the gall to be issuing ultimatums. I do agree that times are hard for everybody globally, especially Jamaicans, but it requires people to be understanding that these are challenges that all business owners and governments are facing globally. The Police Federation, Jamaica Teachers' Association and the local government authorities should be on their knees praying and thanking God that they have jobs in this crisis, instead of behaving as if they are some terrorists who have a divine right to increased salaries and wages regardless of the circumstances the country faces.

We are in the middle of a global economic volcano and the Police Federation chairman had the gall to be demanding increases in wages. I am not only taking a swipe at the Police Federation, but, in general, all the trade unions and representative bodies appear to be lacking certain basic comprehension when it comes to salary negotiations. They all take a militant approach into these negotiations, which have led me to the conclusion that the trade-union movement in Jamaica needs renewal. These guys appear to be using negotiating skills and techniques from the early 1990s which have become redundant in today's world. Their aggressive attitude will only lead employers to get tougher and send home several workers.

It is better to keep what you have than becoming greedy and lose everything. There are so many Jamaicans who have lost their jobs over the last six months or so, and those who were out of jobs before would do anything to be taking home a fraction of what the police and all those other public-sector individuals are getting, much less to be issuing ultimatums.

The system of negotiating and agreeing wage packages for government work is flawed because it appears to me that every year they are guaranteed a salary increase regardless of what is happening in the market. As an audit practitioner and someone who has worked internationally, I can testify that most companies in the business world only give salary increases based on their profitability and ability to pay. The Jamaican government is currently running a deficit which is largely due to the massive wage bill for public-sector workers.

salary increase

The Government cannot entertain any argument pertaining to salary increase because it is time to cut some of those jobs. I know that the Government will not take such tough decisions in a recession and can be forgiven if that is its reason. However, if these guys continue to demand what we cannot afford as a country, then wait no longer; start chopping left, right and centre immediately.

In a recession, market conditions dictate that salaries are either frozen or reduced. The worse case scenario is the loss of jobs. The Government needs no other motivation to cut public-sector jobs than to listen to the leadership of the Police Federation.

I am, etc.,

CRAIG DAVIS

ccraig73@yahoo.com