HyltonBalford Henry, Acting News Editor
A 72-HOUR strike notice was issued yesterday on Windalco (formerly Alcan Jamaica) by the Union of Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Personnel (UTASP).
The notice could lead to a closure of the plant, triggered by a strike of the supervisory and technical personnel represented by UTASP as of noon on Monday. But, the Ministry of Labour has intervened into the issue, by inviting the parties to a meeting at its North Street, Kingston, office this morning at ten in a bid to prevent a stoppage.
The dispute primarily surrounds the company's decision to turn over its employees' health scheme to Life of Jamaica. In the process, the workers claim that they have lost a number of benefits. One change is that they will now have to pay, up front, their 20 per cent contribution for using the facility, instead of it being deducted from their pay.
UTASP said that the notice was issued yesterday at noon and expires at noon on Monday. Trade unions in the bauxite/alumina sector are required to give a 72-hour notice of industrial action, under their Memorandum of Understanding with the companies.
The Gleaner contacted Windalco's general manager, Pat McIntosh, yesterday. He confirmed receiving the ultimatum, but refused to comment on the issues surrounding it, in light of the reference to the Ministry of Labour.
In the meantime, Minister of Mining and Energy, Anthony Hylton, has invited Windalco's management, as well as the two unions representing its workers - UTASP for supervisors and engineers and the National Workers Union (NWU) for hourly paid workers- to a meeting at his Ministry on Wednesday to discuss the unions' claim that the management has been breached the MOU.
NWU spokesman Norman DaCosta said yesterday that the hourly-paid workers were restive over a 15-month delay in settling a new labour agreement with the company.
He blamed the management's insistence on removing some current benefits for the delay. Mr. McIntosh would not comment on that claim either, when contacted yesterday.
The pay dispute has been before the Ministry since July 30 but, after four meetings, there has still been no agreement. The parties meet again at the Ministry on Tuesday.
The most contentious issues include: the management's demand for a 44-month contract, compared to the current 33-month agreement; the management's proposal to withdraw a $500-per-month travelling allowance; and the controversial Personal Income Protection clause, which allows the workers to benefit from dips in the rate of exchange of the US dollar.
The Ministry of Labour confirmed yesterday that it had called a meeting with UTASP and the management for ten this morning in a bid to avert the strike and that it would also host a meeting between the management and the NWU next Tuesday.
Windalco is the name of the joint venture company comprising Swiss Metal firm, Glencore International, which acquired Alcan's 93 per cent share in Alcan Jamaica in June 2001 and the government-owned Jamaica Bauxite Mining, which owns the others seven per cent. The company operates from plants at Kirkvine, Ewarton and Port Esquivel.
In October, 2001, the company's technical and supervisory staff walked off their jobs protesting against the delay in settling their pay claims. The matter was referred to the Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT) and resolved last March.
Within a week of that strike, unionised workers at Jamalco represented by the University and Allied Workers Union (UAWU) staged a wildcat strike which led to a two-month closure and the eventual redundancy of some 600 workers.
