The headline in Sunday's Gleaner (May 10) has the prime minister complaining of being bullied by workers from the National Water Commission and members of the police force. The fact is that the Government, led by Prime Minister Golding, signed different wage agreements with the respective unions and associations representing the NWC workers and the police. These agreements call for a seven per cent wage increase as of April this year.

The Government led by Golding is unilaterally breaking those agreements. It is the same thing the prime minister has attempted to do with the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions. It seems to me that he and his Government are the people doing the bullying.

Breach of conventions

A fundamental principle governing all democracy is that no one party to a contract can unilaterally change that agreement. This is what the prime minister and his Cabinet are attempting to do. It is a breach of international conventions ratified by the Jamaican Parliament.

If there is to be a wage freeze, let it be by mutual consent. The previous government showed that it is possible to use negotiations to achieve a wage freeze.

The prime minister has taken the wrong road and must admit the error of his ways and change course immediately, in the best interest of the nation.

I am, etc.,

LAMBERT BROWN

University and Allied

Workers Union