THE UNION of Clerical, Administrative and Supervisory Employees (UCASE) has proposed measures which it says will save the state-owned Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) $30 million over the next year in meeting the demands for increased wages and improved benefits for its workers.
Danny Roberts, Deputy Island Supervisor of UCASE, said the 42-point claim has been constructed to move away from the kind of distributive bargaining approach, with what he said were its attendant conflicts and mistrust.
In a release on Friday, Mr. Roberts said the union was hoping to engage the management in productivity bargaining, which should lead to cost savings and the efficient use of human resources.
Although he has not detailed the ways in which the bus company could save the $30 million, Mr. Roberts said "the salary claim is based on a variable pay model with a 12 per cent increase in basic salary in the first year and 10 per cent in the second year of the agreement, along with performance-based increases ranging from two to six per cent."
He said a proposal has been made for 10 per cent of the payroll dollar to be spent on training in the areas of competencies, as well as team building, communication and improved customer delivery.
The claim further calls for investment in human resource development through a scholarship fund, adequate study leave provisions, and an education assistance programme for employees' children.
The claim also called for a worker-representative on the JUTC Board, clear policy guidelines for acting, promotional advancements and career development.
Mr. Roberts said proposals have also been submitted for improvements in the existing pension plan, group life insurance benefits, health scheme and other social protection benefits.
He said many of the workers had not had a wage increase for more than two years, and the union was anxious to start negotiations on formalising a new agreement.
Mr. Roberts said, however, that the integrative bargaining approach being adopted by the UCASE would mean full disclosure of information, greater transparency, openness, and the recognition that it was through participative management that the value of the resources could be increased for distribution between the workers and the management.
