THE EXPORT of Jamaican citrus fruits and juices could be "devastated" by a strike which began at United Estates, Bog Walk, St. Catherine, the management claimed yesterday.
Spokesmen for the newly-formed Trade Winds Citrus Limited and United Estates said fresh (citrus) fruits exports to the northern United States, Canada, the Caribbean and the United Kingdom from their operations were being threatened by the strike. However, no figures were available.
"We will be totally devastated if the strike continues, especially being a new company trying to meet new export orders," said spokesman for Trade Winds Peter McConnell yesterday.
The strike began yesterday morning. It was triggered by a dispute between United Estates and the National Workers Union (NWU) which represents the company's more than 1,000 farm employees.The dispute is over the estates' decision to make redundant about 220 processing plant workers. The plant, which produces "True Juice" and "Fresh" citrus juices, as well as export citrus juice concentrates, was sold by United Estates to Trade Winds in December.
However, the owners of the new company include United Estates' director Peter McConnell. The workers claim Trade Winds is a "paper" company owned by the McConnells, who own United Estates. Peter McConnell said it was a partnership between himself and a Canadian investor involved in groceries.
NWU island supervisor Vincent Morrison said the dispute was being fanned by the fact a number of employees from the processing plant have not been paid. These workers had refused to accept their redundancy payments since December. The company had combined redundancy pay with their normal pay and they had not collected the envelopes.
Mr. Morrison said the strike by the farm workers was in support of their colleagues made redundant at the processing plant.
Mr. McConnell said the striking workers were intimidating those who wanted to work at the processing plant. He said the plant needed about 200 workers, but had only been able to employ about 40 so far. He said employment was available to those who were made redundant as well as workers from the farm and others.
Mr. McConnell said the future of the new operation was being threatened by the strike, before it even got off the ground. Production of the local citrus juice brands started yesterday but was halted after the strike began and the entrance and exits to the estate and plant were picketed.
