Headlines:
| Unions want end to free first class tickets for politicians |
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| Friday, 16 May 2008 | |
Unions
representing Air Jamaica
workers are demanding that the cash-strapped airline immediately cease
providing complementary first class tickets to Parliamentarians.This is one of several cost-cutting measures presented to the airline's management on Thursday. The unions want the savings passed on the employees who have not been given a salary increase in nearly two years. Vice-President of the National Workers Union Granville Valentine said it is unfair for Air Jamaica to continue providing benefits to Parliamentarians while workers suffer. "We're told that each person gets four first class tickets and we believe strongly that a cash strapped company cannot carry that kind of burden, when one examines how many Parliamentarians exist, how many Junior Ministers, Senators a rough idea is about 100 or more." Mr. Valentine said the cost of providing these complementary rickets to the Parliamentary officials amounts to between $25 and $30 million. "This company is not in a position to bear that burden," said Mr. Valentine. The airline's management and union officials are to meet next week to review the feasibility of the cost saving measures presented. |