Charles: There is now normality at the ports.

After days of protests, workers at Kingston Wharves returned to work yesterday, with the exception of 10 of their colleagues who were made redundant.

Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles made the announcement while speaking at yesterday's opening of the National Productivity Conference at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston.

"There is now normality at the ports ... Workers have resumed work," Charles said.

Failed to resolve dispute

The workers started their protest action last Thursday after talks between the labour ministry and the National Workers Union (NWU) failed to resolve a dispute caused by the company's decision to make the positions of the 10 employees redundant.

The matter went before the Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT) and the workers were ordered back to work on Friday.

On Monday, when the workers had not resumed duty, the labour minister warned that "serious action" would be taken if they did not report for work.

Vice-president of the NWU, Granville Valentine, told The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre on Monday that he was expecting the IDT would begin examining the issues surrounding the controversial redundancies by next week.

Valentine also expressed concern that the management of Kingston Wharves failed to remove casual and temporary workers before those in permanent positions.