JAMAICA: POLICE SICK-OUT

UNCLAS KINGSTON 001881 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR (RANDALL BUDDEN) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KCRM SNAR ASEC EFIN ELAB SOCI IMF CASC, JM SUBJECT: JAMAICA: POLICE SICK-OUT ¶1. (U) Hundreds of rank and file members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) called in sick to press for an improved wage offer from the Government on September 20-21, thus hampering Security operations across the island. Police are demanding a 75 percent increase in salary and additional benefits. Under Jamaican law, police officers are not allowed to strike. However, rank-and-file Members of the Force claimed they would continue to protest until their demands have been met. Negotiations between the Finance Ministry and the Police Federation are at a standstill and the Finance Ministry refuses to negotiate until officers end the sick-out. ¶2. (U) Minister of National Security Peter Phillips has stepped in as a mediator. However, a seven-hour meeting on September 20 between Phillips and members of the Police Federation failed to resolve the stand-off. Continued negotiations between Phillips and the Police Federation are scheduled for the afternoon of September 21. ¶3. (SBU) According to Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas, the October 20 negotiations were cordial and the Police Federation has tabled a wage and benefit offer significantly below the original demand for a 75 percent salary increase, 20 percent housing allowance increase and 50 percent severance pay increase over two years. Thomas would not reveal the reduced counter offer but it likely is somewhere near the GOJ's last offer of a 22.5 percent across the board wage increase. ¶4. (SBU) Court proceedings in several areas of the island have been suspended due to lack of officers to transport prisoners, and calls to some of the islands police stations are going unanswered. Reservists and members of the Jamaica Defense Force are being called to fill the gaps. Officers in the special units such as the USG supported vetted units and the JCF's Special Branch are reporting to work as normal. Most of the officers participating in the sick out are the uniformed officers, the beat cops, who on average earn only USD 500 per month. Despite the shortage of officers, there has not been an increase in crime, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields. "The criminals have not yet realized the opportunity," he said. Shields expects the police will meet with Phillips and agree to a solution that can then go to the Finance Ministry. Shields hopes that Phillips will be able get the officers back on the street and the Finance Ministry and Police Federation back to the bargaining table. -------------- Analysis: A Quandary for the PM -------------- ¶4. (U) With the PNP annual conference opening tonight, the widely perceived possibility that Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller might soon call early general elections may increase the leverage of the Police Federation, as well as that of teachers and junior doctors, who also are in wage negotiations with the GOJ: the Prime Minister would want to avoid civil strife during the campaign. On the other hand, if she gives in to the police officers' demands, the teachers and junior doctors may also decide to strike. Meeting the demands of the unions would put severe stain on the GOJ's budget at a time when Jamaica's Debt-to-GDP ratio already stands at 136%. In a statement issued October 18, Opposition Spokesman on National Security Derrick Smith said he hoped the government would not wait until the eve of a general election to improve its offer to the police in order to attract their support. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: At this stage, we do not believe that our facilities or personnel are at risk, nor do we judge there is any appreciably increased danger to U.S. citizens on the island. End Comment. HEG