KINGSTON, Jamaica — Julian Robinson, the People’s National Party (PNP) Member of Parliament (MP) for St Andrew South Eastern, is sounding the alarm on potential industrial action from public sector unions in April unless the government acts swiftly.

Speaking with Observer Online in Easington, St Thomas, Robinson expressed concerns over rising tensions among unions stemming from a pending agreement between the Government and the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions for the payment of three years of outstanding increments as of April 1st.

“The unions have put the Government on notice that if those payments are not made, we may have industrial action,” Robinson claimed.

The MP is appealing to the finance minister to ensure the money is paid on the agreed date.

“Or else we may go into a situation where from the beginning of April we have industrial action on our side,” he warned, adding, “One of the main issues the unions have is that the Government commits to something and then doesn’t follow through.”

While acknowledging that the finance minister confirmed the money had been budgeted to pay the workers, he stressed that the agreement must be upheld on time or the economy would suffer.

“There was a notice sent out by the president of the Jamaica Civil Service Association because there were supposed to be meetings which have been put off — no new dates have been set for those meetings— and they have indicated that if those meetings are not held and the agreements not upheld we may have industrial action. And we don’t want that, it would be severely disruptive to the entire economy because health services, teaching services, all of those services are likely to be affected if this is not honoured,” Robinson explained.

Robinson also took aim at the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), declaring their “time is up” and asserting that the country craved new leadership.

“Quite frankly I think time is up for the labour party. People want a new direction, they want a new leadership. Mark Golding is here with a team to provide that and we are ready to give the leadership to the country so that we can lift the quality of life for all Jamaicans, not just a few,” Robinson said.

(Video by Llewellyn Wynter)