By Janet Silvera, Gleaner WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
WORKERS AT the Sangster International Airport staged a peaceful demonstration yesterday morning, protesting against a $50 parking fee they are now being asked to pay to use the staff car park.
The protesters have for years used a free parking lot across from an electrical substation near the cargo and domestic terminals.
On July 21, operators of the facility, MBJ Limited, gave notice to them, airline management companies and tenants regarding the imminent closure of and the consolidation to a newly-refurbished car park. The letter stated that effective August 3 the lot in question would be consolidated with the newly-refurbished staff car park and staff would be expected to pay $50 per day.
"It's really an issue between the employees and their employers," said Curtis Grad, vice-president of operations, MBJ Limited. He said MBJ's job was to provide facility for parking and charge accordingly.
REVIEWING TRANSPORTATION ALLOWANCES
In the meantime, Sandrea Falconer, Air Jamaica director of communications, has said the airline is reviewing its current transportation allowances and is looking to provide relief for its affected staff.
The workers were given a temporary reprieve yesterday morning, Mr. Grad said, but the companies affected need to make arrangements for their employees. According to him, the workers enjoy a discounted rate of approximately 70 per cent. "The public rate is $50 per hour, plus a re-entry fee, while staff pay $50 all day, and can leave and enter as often as they want."
He said in other airports throughout the world staff are required to pay for parking. In many cases, he said, employers subsidise or make preparations for their employees.
An average of 4,000 full-time and part-time workers are attached to the Sangster International Airport and close to 300 of them utilise the staff parking lot.
