President of the Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA), O’Neil Grant has indicated that a meeting will be held at 3:00 pm with members of the JIS technical team who staged a sickout yesterday over what they deem was a slow pace of negotiations under the Government’s compensation review exercise.

The audiovisual workers from both the Kingston and Montegobay offices took industrial action over what has been proposed for their alignment under the ongoing restructuring of the public sector.

The workers also relayed to the Union President that they feel that the management is not adequately advocating their issues and is desirous for the union to enter the discussions and represent their interests.

Grant also added that it is important that the union be allowed to participate in the dialogue at this juncture so the interest of the workers can be properly represented.

“We are urging the Ministry of Finance to allow the union to come to the table now rather than after because the level of assurances that we need to give to the workers that the matters are being addressed and being addressed expeditiously needs to be given. From where we are now, it is only the unions that can give that assurance,” he suggested.

Later that day, Finance Minister Nigel Clarke met with the disgruntled workers and assured them that discussions are still being had, and their concerns are being taken into account.