PUBLIC sector trade unions, which fall under the umbrella of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU), are demanding that the Government complete negotiations on 18 items still outstanding from their claims for the 2015/2017 contract period, which expired on March 31.

The claims in question were not agreed to by the previous Government in 2015 during those negotiations on which the last contract was signed off and, therefore, were left out of the collective agreement which expired at the end of March.

Added to 36 other claims included in the new submission for 2017/2019 from the trade unions, the parties are now scheduled to commence negotiations soon on a total of at least 54 claims in all.

The unions also noted that they reserve the right to “add additional claims at the first negotiating meeting”, which is likely to be held later this month.

The new claims were dated May 24 and signed by JCTU vice-president and Jamaica Civil Service Association president, O’Neil Grant.

The 18 outstanding items from 2015 include: pension reform; healthy lifestyle; permanent status for postal agents; elimination of contract employment; review and expansion of miscellaneous loan fund; voluntary separation; universal social welfare and protection policy; compassionate leave; paternity leave; right to independent and/or private work; permanent status; and “no separation without dialogue with trade union representatives”.

The new claims also include a compounded 60 per cent pay rise over 2017/19, and claims for increases in allowances and allocations for educational support for public employees.