UNCLAS KINGSTON 001289

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

WHA/CAR (BENT), INL/LP (KBROWN), DS/IP/ITA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KCRM SNAR ASEC JM
SUBJECT: JAMAICA: POLICE OFFICERS CALL OUT SICK



1. (U) On Monday, May 9, angry Jamaica Constabulary Force
(JCF) officers blocked Finance Minister Omar Davies from
leaving the Ministry of Finance and Planning building in an
attempt to force the Minister to respond within 48 hours to
the officers, demands for a 47 percent wage increase.
Davies, who was en route to a Cabinet meeting, was then
forced into the Heroes, Circle complex (a park across from
the Ministry of Finance) where he was handed a police
microphone and addressed the protestors, agreeing to a
meeting with the Police Federation. Only then was the
Minister allowed to leave. JCF Commissioner Lucius Thomas
has called an investigation into the officers, actions.


2. (SBU) The Police Federation and the Ministry of Finance
have been at an impasse for more than a year over JCF,s
request for a 47 percent wage increase, provisions for better
working conditions, increased access to training
opportunities and improved health benefits. The government
insists that it cannot offer more than a three per cent hike,
the maximum under a 2004 Memorandum of Understanding with
public sector workers. A meeting between Davies and the
Police Federation on May 12 did not resolve the matter and at
midnight on May 17, JCF officers began to call in sick. RSO
has confirmed that there is not a wide scale "sick-out" on
the island; however, if talks continue to break down and
demands are not met, some officers are adamant that they will
have no option but to resort to protest.


3. (U) The Prime Minister will meet with trade union leaders
today to assist in resolving this matter. Minister of
National Security Peter Phillips and JCF Commissioner Lucius
Thomas are also meeting today to seek ways to avoid a full
scale protest by JCF officers.
TIGHE