Petulia Clarke, Freelance WriterTHE NATIONAL Workers Union (NWU) wants a 70 per cent wage increase over two years for gas station attendants.
At a meeting with gas station attendants yesterday, NWU representative Granville Valentine, said the union would ask for a 40 per cent hike in year one and 30 per cent in year two, starting October. Attendants currently make a maximum $2,600 basic pay.
The union represents gas station attendants who work for stations in the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association (JGRA) and National service stations. The NWU also proposed a 40 per cent increase in laundry allowance, a pension scheme, triple time on public holidays, double time on weekends, night transport or taxi fare, in-house training, redundancy payment and added security.
Tomorrow the union will present a draft proposal to the JGRA and National service stations and will submit a claim in three weeks for a new agreement.
"We have to have early negotiations because we want to eliminate the long retroactive payments," Mr. Valentine said.
Gas station attendants, who attended the meeting at the NWU's East Street office, voiced their many complaints. These ranged from inadequate uniforms to being affected by gas fumes, lack of pension schemes and health plans and having to wash pumps.
"Sometimes mi get hoarse, the customers ask me how mi take the smell of the gas," said Harris Johnson an attendant who has been at Barbican Texaco station for more than 22 years without a pension plan.
"Sometimes mi have to wear mi suit pants, because mi don't get no uniform, then them tell me to wash the pumps afterwards. It can't work", Mr. Johnson said.
Some attendants also complained about not getting transportation home after work.
"My station lock off at 10:00 p.m. and all the workers dem scared. The thieves keep terrorising the boys and want to rape off the women," Mr Johnson said. "There needs to be either a night shift allowance or transport provided," he said.
Nadine Griffiths, who works at a National service station, told the meeting of receiving threats from customers and people driving off without paying. She begged for a system where customers would pay before getting gas.
"Sometimes them search them pocket then drive off fast, fast. When the money short, it come from your pay; when it over, you hear nothing," she said.
"We are disappointed with the benefits and the pay. We want the best package...the best health care. We cannot go into the 21st century without preparing ourselves and our children," Mr. Valentine said.
"In high risk jobs people must be compensated," he added. "We have to convince the bosses to assist and get the best package posssible," he continued.
