Edmond Campbell, News Coordinator

A senior National Workers' Union (NWU) representative says his union is in no hurry to sign MOU3 with the Government.

His remarks came a day after Senator Dwight Nelson, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, told The Gleaner that the new MOU would be signed before May.

In an interview with The Gleaner on Thursday, Nelson said the signing of MOU3 should take place before May. He was reluctant to give details about current negotiations but pointed out that the previous MOU was signed in May.

He said discussions with the unions were progressing smoothly, and hinted that the new agreement should be inked in April.

Vice-president of the NWU, Granville Valentine, says while the union was in support of a new MOU with the Government, he wanted the administration to take into account a number of factors that were critical to the agreement.

"I am in no haste to sign the MOU. I think it is something that you must go through thoroughly and ensure that the proper process has taken place."

Prohibit redundancy

Valentine said the new accord should retain the provision that prohibits redundancy. He argued that no redundancy should take place in the public sector unless the MOU committee thoroughly examined the proposal and was convinced that it was going in the right direction.

The NWU vice-president argued that MOU3 should take into account the waning standard of living of the worker due to the hike in the cost of living.

Inflation for the period January 2007 to January 2008 was 18.2 per cent while year-to-date inflation now stands at 16.4 per cent.

Valentine says the MoU should include a clause which protects the worker in the event inflation continues to rise sharply.

The first two MOUs saved the previous administration billions of dollars as they restricted the movement in wages.