UNIONISED EMPLOYEES of Cable & Wireless Jamaica Limited went on strike yesterday, disrupting telephone services and forcing some offices to either close or operate at less than full strength.
The workers are expected to resume work this morning, but their dispute over revised health benefits may end up at the Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT).
The company's Call Centre was also out of operation yesterday and there was no confirmation up to press time whether it was back to normal. However, there was no disruption in either local, foreign or cellular services, said public relations manager Errol Miller.
Clive Dobson, President of the National Workers Union (NWU), one of the unions involved, said the workers would be back at work this morning, as the protest was only for a day.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour Anthony Irons, told The Gleaner last night that after the unions failed to attend a second meeting scheduled for yesterday afternoon, it was decided to schedule a third meeting for this morning, failing which the matter will be referred to the IDT.
Only one of the four unions representing the approximately 3,000 workers, JAMASA (Jamintel Managers and Staff Association), turned up at the two previously scheduled meetings at the Ministry of Labour. There was no indication from any of the other three unions -- the NWU, UAWU and CWJ Executive Staff Association -- as to whether they will attend today's meeting.
Mr. Irons called the action of the workers unlawful because they had failed to follow the grievance process required in an essential service. This sentiment was echoed by Cable & Wireless.
However, NWU president Clive Dobson, noted that the issue of health benefits was only the latest in a series of problems. "This atmosphere has built up from a number of matters culminating in the health benefits issue."
He accused the company of making numerous changes without consulting the unions or the workers, thereby increasing industrial relations tension.
In a statement yesterday, Cable & Wireless said it was "disingenuous and false" for the unions to claim that the workers would have to pay significantly more out of their pockets because of the revised health scheme.
The company said in a statement: "In a situation in which the norm in Jamaica is for companies to pay 80 per cent of costs for doctors' visits and prescriptions drugs, Cable & Wireless Jamaica's revised plan calls for employees to pay $5 (7.7 per cent) for each doctor's visit and five per cent of each prescription cost.
"Add to that the fact that employees' contribution to the scheme will be reduced by 10 per cent, it is difficult to understand any claim that employees will have to find significantly more money to fund their health costs."
