Apr 23, 1999
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Apr 23, 1999 |
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JCTU won't join review c'ttee
THE JAMAICA Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) has declined the Government's invitation to serve on the committee to review the fuel tax saying "no useful purpose can be served by a committee that is seemingly placative, prohibitive in scope and guided by expediency". Describing the committee as too restrictive, narrowly focused and ignoring the wider issues and concerns of the people, the JCTU said it was "quite belatedly" requested to serve and "we will have to respectfully decline the invitation ..." The people's response to the gas price increase is symptomatic of a much deeper problem which has to be tackled, said a release from the organisation. "Thousands of workers have lost their jobs over the years, growing income inequality exists, there is the lack of job creation, with very little prospect for employment opportunities, problems in the health and education sectors, in transportation and problems of crime and violence" the release continued. Continuous dialogue Genuine and continuous dialogue with the people must be promoted, the JCTU added. "Confidence in government has fallen and will continue to fall as long as we are served with the old options of fewer services or higher taxes which is the task of the committee and have accepted a staid bureaucracy which has habitually failed to maximise its resources in new ways to heighten both efficiency and effectiveness." The organisation added that "unless Government sees this as an opportunity to reform itself, to act always as the servant of the people, to constantly dialogue and to construct a model based upon equity and sustainable growth with employment creation, then we may, regrettably, have to pass this way again." |
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