By Erica James King, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
IT'S ALL systems go today on Phase two of the North Coast Highway Project, as the just over 350 construction workers on the project have agreed to call off their one-week industrial action and resume normal activities this morning.
The back-to-work formula was arrived at during a workers meeting yesterday, called by the two unions - Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) and the National Workers Union (NWU) - representing the workers.
The meeting was held at the offices of the contracting firm for that highway, Jose Cartellonie on the St. Ann/-Trelawny border.
During yesterday's meeting, the workers rejected the first call of the unions to return to work and instead insisted that the management of the company make some concessions before normality could resume.
"We (the unions) then had to meet unilaterally with the management of Jose Cartellonie and get an agreement from them on several items. A general reclassification exercise and upgrading of the different categories of workers, are major changes on which the company has agreed," said Frank McDonald, Assistant Island Supervisor of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union who met with company representatives and workers yesterday.
Mr. McDonald added: "The company has agreed to embark on a general reclassification exercise of all the construction workers on Segment 1 of the North Coast Highway Project. The contractors have also given the commitment that it will implement an incentive scheme based on productivity and performance. All workers will be eligible to participate in this scheme."
Another concession brokered between the unions and management of the foreign contracting firm is that the workers would be paid their full wages for yesterday, although they were still off the job. The company has placed all its new commitments in writing to the two unions.
The BITU Assistant Island Supervisor told The Gleaner that when the assurances given by the management were communicated to the employees when the workers meeting resumed, they gave the nod that they would resume normal duties on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the unions and the representatives of Jose Cartellonie are to meet one day next week to finalise arrangements for the worker incentive scheme and the reclassification exercise.
The $60-million Segment two of the North Coast Highway was plagued with a work-stoppage for one week, after workers walked off the job in protest against what they say is low wages and poor working conditions.
The employees said the industrial action was aimed at pressing home their demands for a 30 per cent increase in pay. Currently, the construction workers are earning 10 per cent above the Joint Industrial Council (JIC) rates, but they are complaining that they are having a hard time making ends meet, are insisting that since the highway is a special project, the contractor should pay them higher rates. The JIC rates are generally set by the unions and the Incorporated Masterbuilders Association of Jamaica. Speaking in an interview with The Gleaner, Gerardo Adaro, General Manger of the contracting firm, Jose Cartellonie said he was relieved that the workers had agreed to take up their normal duties.
He said that due to the lost man hours, the company has chalked up "an estimated US$500,000 in losses for the duration of the strike."
A meeting between the disputing parties at the Transport Ministry last Friday, failed to arrive at a consensus about a wage increase for the employees.
At Friday's discussions, the contracting firm remained adamant that they could not afford a 30 per cent increase to the employees.
As a result of the impasse, Transport Minister Robert Pickersgill gave the disputing parties an undertaking that he would bring their concerns before Prime Minister PJ Patterson and Finance Minister Dr. Omar Davies.
According to Stephen Shaw, Communications Director for the Western Region of the National Works Agency, "while Minister Pickersgill could not guarantee that government would concede to the workers demands, he gave a commitment that he would refer the matter to the Prime Minister and Finance Minister for their input. The two government officials will be able to determine whether government will be able to guarantee all or part of the workers demands."
The Transport Minister is to meet with the unions and the management of Jose Cartellonie at a date to be determined, to report on the response from Prime Minister Patterson and the Finance Minister.
Phase 2 of the Northcoast Highway which covers some 91 kilometres is being constructed from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios, and got off the ground last year.
Just three weeks ago, Prime Minister Patterson speaking in Annotto Bay, St. Mary remarked that "work on the second phase (of the highway) was far advanced."
However, the just-ended industrial action might derail the timetable for this completion of this phase of the highway.
