Former Prime Minister and President-General of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union, the Right Hon. Hugh Shearer (right), accepts an award in recognition of his contribution to the 1966 negotiations which led to the mechanisation of the Port of Kingston. Making the presentation is former President of the Shipping Association of Jamaica, Francis Kennedy. The occasion was the JIC for Port Bustamante 40th Anniversary Awards function in 1992. - Contributed THE LABOUR unrests of the 1930s, which took centrestage on the Kingston waterfront, provided the early impetus for the establishment of the Joint Industrial Council for Port Bustamante.
The imperative was that the working conditions had to be improved to support the growth and development of the shipping industry and the public wharves in Kingston. The focus, however, was not only about improving working conditions, as the deliberations of the JIC had to reflect and anticipate the development of a vibrant shipping industry.
It was against this background that the Joint Industrial Council for Port Bustamante came into being on August 26, 1952, comprising representatives of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU), the Trades Union Congress (TUC), and the United Portworkers & Seamen Union (UPWU) and the Shipping Association of Jamaica.
Since then the Council, the largest and oldest active JIC in the country, has been working assiduously to secure the greatest level of co-operation between port labour and management. Its mandate, as set out in its constitution, is to develop the Port of Kingston, utilising the most efficient methods and to improve the operating conditions for all entities engaged directly in shipping and, to consider and identify ways and means of ensuring fair and equitable distribution of available work.
And the Council has been striving with considerable success to do just that, having contributed to the modernisation of the Port of Kingston and hammering out systems which have reduced outdated and restrictive labour practices on the Port of Kingston, making transhipment and domestic cargoes more attractive and competitive in international shipping.
FREQUENT STRIKES
"In the early days, there were frequent strikes leading to the Moodie Commission of Inquiry, which was set up to investigate the causes of the strike and make recommendations to improve conditions on the port," noted Alister Cooke, long-standing JIC member and former General Manager of the Shipping Association of Jamaica. This Inquiry led to the 1966 labour agreement.
HISTORIC LABOUR AGREEMENT
In 1966, outstanding trade union leaders, the late former Prime Minister Michael Manley, Hugh Shearer, also a former Prime Minister and Hopeton Caven, as well as G.R Collyer and Eric J Milsted representing the Shipping Association, signed the historic labour agreement which modernised the working conditions, providing weekly guaranteed pay, a two shift system, improved sick and vacation leave entitlements, groundwork for new incentive scheme and the introduction of technical and mechanical improvements covering cargo in ship holds and on the docks.
"Over time the port has moved from labour intensive to capital intensive with skilled workers... Back then ships had to stay days in port before they were discharged, and there were originally no welfare benefits for portworkers," explained Mr Cooke,
"The 1966 contract laid the basis for our modern port..." Mr. Cooke said, mentioning the move from a Superannuation Fund and Emergency Relief Fund, to a new pension scheme for workers including a reduction in the retirement age from 70 to 65.
Another major achievement of the JIC for Port Bustamante is the landmark three-year labour agreement signed in 1998, which diminished certain restrictive labour practices, by introducing flexible work arrangements for the port to remain competitive. This was the only time that athree-year contract had been negotiated in the industry.
"The work of the JIC for Port Bustamante is an important success story for the country. By and large, portworkers have attained a higher level of self respect and self worth as a result of the work of the unions and workers of the JIC," Mr. Cooke observed.
"Shipping is the first global industry. Any strike on our port will have more far-reaching effect on the country. Maintaining good labour relations at Port Bustamante will always be of importance," Mr. Cooke stressed.
