A RIFT between the Union of Clerical Administrative and Supervisory Employees (UCASE) and Texaco Caribbean Incorporated shows no sign of healing, 24 hours before a two-week ultimatum by truck drivers for petroleum haulage
contractors to conclude wage negotiations closes.
UCASE president, Danny Roberts, said the union represents 12 of the 40 contractors he says are "ready and anxious to meet" with representatives at Texaco, one of five marketing companies who have agreements with the haulage contractors.
Mr. Roberts said his organisation has made several attempts at dialogue with the appropriate parties at that company but have been unsuccessful.
"It's quite apparent that Texaco has no intention to meet with us," said Mr. Roberts. He added that not even a meeting with Commerce and Technology Minister, Phillip Paulwell, who stepped in as mediator, had improved the situation.
He said UCASE, in contrast, was close to finding common ground with administrators at Petcom and Petrojam, two of the marketing companies which also employ contractors represented by the union.
Mr. Roberts described discussions with those companies as 'favourable.'
The Gleaner was unable to get a comment from the management at Texaco.
On October 5, over 200 truck drivers from Kingston and Montego Bay threatened to go on strike if the 40 contractors did not come to the table and discuss a fresh wage regime. The drivers have asked for a 20 per cent increase in the first year and 15 per cent in the second year.
Two weeks ago, Vincent Morrison of the National Workers Union, which represents the drivers, said they were looking for improvements in medical, overtime and other benefits.
