KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Workers Union (NWU), Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) and the Union of the Public and Private Employees have inked a four-year wage and fringe benefits agreement with the HEART/NTA for over 500 non- management and support services staff island wide.

NWU Vice President, Arthur Grant in a release yesterday described the deal as a reasonable settlement.

According to Grant, highlights of the agreement include:

a) Overall 18 per cent wage increase over the four years, which includes seven per cent in year one (2017), three per cent in years two and three and five per cent in year four; representing the contract period April 1, 2017 – March 31, 2021.

b) Staff will also receive increases in line with wages on clothing, subsistence, meal/supper and taxi allowances.

c) Introduction of a shift premium for staff who work swing and graveyard hours at Ebony Park and the College of Hospitality Services (Cardiff Hotel).

In addition, the agreement states that a job analysis exercise will be finalised during the merger process. There is also an inflation rider/ protection clause which will result in the parties returning to the bargaining table should the national inflation exceeds the projected four to six per cent.

The new rates and retroactive sums will be reflected in the August 2018 pay cycle.