Headlines:
| JUTC Chairman to meet with unions |
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| Friday, 06 June 2008 | |
The Ministry of Transport has intervened in the dispute
at the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) which led to a strike at the
company Friday morning.Scores of commuters were left stranded as drivers and conductors withdrew their services to protest against another round of redundancies. When RJR News contacted Transport Minister Mike Henry he indicated he was on his way out of the island. But he confirmed that his Ministry would try to settle the impasse. "(I received a letter from the union at 6.30pm yesterday) after I came off a road tour. I was only able to read it on the way to the airport this morning but I've spoken to the Chairman (of the JUTC) and I've asked him to meet with the Union," said Mr. Henry. Director of Communications Reginald Allen said he is arranging a crucial meeting. "The Minister has mandated the Chairman, Mr. Chambers to meet with the unions and I have also had dialogue with the Finance Ministry which has a part to play because the JUTC is in a situation where subsidizing and support from the government, especially the Finance Ministry is critically,' said Mr. Allen. On Thursday, the JUTC announced that more than 200 positions will be made redundant. Drivers, conductors and bus cleaners are among those who will be sent home. Earlier this year the JUTC made more than 300 positions redundant. The company said it would operate with a reduced work force until it is able to increase its complement of buses. It also said it is moving towards buses operated solely by drivers. Workers treated with contempt  Several angry workers of the JUTC gathered at the
Twickenham Park Depot in Spanish
Town, St. Catherine to
protest against the way they had been terminated. The presence of Chairman Douglas Chambers infuriated the workers who demanded that he resign his post. One woman had to be restrained as she threatened to get into a physical battle with him. While that was happening, a nonchalant Mr. Chambers sat just a few meters away smoking a cigarette. One worker complained that the JUTC's management does not respect the workers. "If you want to get rid of people, you do it in a better manner ... you don't just go and put a list on the notice board which says effective immediately, these people no longer work here and you don't have any dialogue with the people. That's rude. I am willing to go but give me my redundancy money," said a worker at JUTC's Twickenham Park depot. Remove Chairman or JUTC will collapse -Roberts 
President of the Union of Clerical Administrative and
Supervisory Employees (UCASE) Danny Roberts is calling for the removal of JUTC
Chairman Desmond Chambers.According to Mr. Roberts, Mr. Chambers is responsible for the tension at the bus company. "Because of his continuous disregard and disrespect for workers and for the collective labour agreement and our labour relations code it does not auger well for the government to continue with a MOU if it continues to have the Chairman preside over the JUTC. It will inevitably lead to the collapse of the company, said Mr. Roberts. He also confirmed that 100 JUTC workers attached to his union are also being laid off. |