Heather Robinson
THERE ARE many workers in Jamaica who have never had to negotiate their salaries with an employer through a trade union. And there are some who every two or three years have grown accustomed to this ritual.
Those who are employed by Government, especially the police, teachers and nurses always attract public attention with these negotiations. During the last two years the presence of the Memorandum of Under-standing (MoU), has reduced this public discussion, but we have managed to hear much from the police and the air traffic controllers who were not signatories to this understanding and, therefore, felt they should be treated differently.
The Police Federation submitted a claim on Government that included a 45 per cent salary increase. The Jamaica Teachers' Association this week served notice that it would not be re-entering into a new MoU and that they would be asking Government for a 47 per cent salary increase. So if the police and the teachers both believe that their salaries should be almost doubled, what will the nurses, doctors, firemen require of Government come 2006?
During last week the Minister of Education revealed that there are secondary schools that have never had one student achieve a single pass in a CXC subject. This was some revelation. During his address to the JTA's annual conference, the Prime Minister reminded Jamaica that currently 95 per cent of the Ministry of Education's budget is spent on salaries, while the remaining 5 per cent have to do all else.
DEMANDS
Among the demands of the leadership of the JTA is the need for better security, with reference being made to the need for electronic security systems, as well as improvements in the school plant, teaching equipment and the performance of education officers. Government is being required to provide all of this from the 5 per cent as well as doubling the salaries of teachers.
How realistic are these requests? Can the teachers at the schools that have never had a CXC pass reasonably expect to be given the same salary increase as the teachers at the schools that have 95 -100 per cent pass rates in many CXC subjects? Who is to accept responsibility for these CXC results? Is it the parents who have not paid any attention to their children for the five years it took to prepare them for CXC? Is it the police officer who saw truant children and never once stopped to speak with them and offer them a drive to school? Is it the councillor and Member of Parliament who each year attend graduation ceremonies and never spent time to return in September to discuss the schools' CXC results?
Or is it the teacher who simply did not care enough all these years to try to find new and more innovative methods to get even one child to pass even one CXC subject? How have these teachers survived emotionally all these years? Have they had any sleepless nights, or have they been dozing in class while the children did as they pleased?
PASSIONATE PEOPLE
There is no doubt that Jamaicans are passionate people. When we like someone or something we leave no stone unturned. Why is it then that whenever teachers or police speak about their need for better salaries they are so passionate, but never the same level of passion about poor CXC results and illiteracy levels, and never this outpouring of passion about the need to reduce Jamaica's murder rate. Have you ever heard the Police Federation calling a special one day conference to discuss new ideas to reduce murders that would ultimately mean a reduction in the number of hours they are now required to work?
NEED FOR BETTER TEACHING
March 2006 will signal the end of the current MoU between the Government and the trade unions. Perhaps it is time for those who represent workers to begin to develop a more enlightened approach. There is the need for better teaching of our children, a drastic reduction in murders and a massive increase in the recovery of illegal firearms. Patients at our public health facilities need quicker service. Firemen need better fire-fighting equipment, and some civil servants can always serve better and more efficiently.
The responsibility to do better cannot rest with the Cabinet ministers only. Ultimately it has to be the responsibility of all who are the beneficiaries of a salary from the people of Jamaica. Proof that what is being paid now is deserving, can only be measured by tangible outcomes. The real test will be seen in March 2006.
Heather Robinson is a life underwriter and a former Member of Parliament.
