Beyond Actor Network Theory to the Marriage of Moments

Actor Network Theory (Ant) And The Memorandum Of Understanding Social Partnership Agreement (Mou)

In terms of context, the signing of a social partnership agreement or MOU by the Government of Jamaica and the Public Sector Trade Unions in 2004 occurred against the background of dire fiscal and macroeconomic challenges. The Ministry of Finance and Planning (MOFP) in response to these circumstances, issued an advisory which capped the filling of vacant posts, as well as the creation, reclassification and upgrading of existing posts within the public sector.

The objective was to reduce any additional public sector salary related expenditures in the budget. However, the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) took umbrage to this unilateral decision by the Government, which triggered a series of meetings and negotiations leading to terms, represented in the text of the ‘Public Sector Memorandum of Understanding’, which was coined the “MoU”.

The major quid pro quo between the Government and the JCTU was the maintenance of the current size and cost of public sector wage expenditure in exchange for not making 15,000 workers redundant. The MoU was applicable to the entire public sector and provided the Government with a ‘breathing space’ to address issues surrounding the macro economy.

Social partnership emerged in part, as a form of governance, reflecting a broadened governance capacity incorporating relatively autonomous institutions, networks and actors (Jessop, 2004; Kooiman, 2000; Rhodes, 1997) into the political system to enhance the governability of the political system as a whole.