MORRISON

Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter

The more than 2,000 workers on the Fiesta Hotel at Point in Hanover are seeking trade union representationby the island's two largest unions, the National Workers' Union (NWU) and the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union.

Vincent Morrison, president of the NWU, told The Gleaner that he met with the workers on Monday by invitation. He said the workers have expressed dissatisfaction with the working conditions on the site.

"Some of the issues we have identified are the absence of any life insurance coverage, the manner of the transportation and the late payment of salaries," he said.

Payment problems

Mr. Morrison said currently, workers are being paid monthly. "The workers are having serious problems with the monthly payment. Normally, construction workers are paid weekly or fortnightly," he said.

The NWU president said the lack of first-aid facilities, social facilities such as toilets, the need for proper identification, and the absence of proper protective clothing were other issues that were raised by workers.

Mr. Morrison, who has been critical of the Government in terms of the manner in which workers' rights were facilitated under the multibillion-dollar Spanish investment, reiterated that unions should be consulted whenever investments like these are taking place.

He said he had written to the Ministry of Labour requesting a meeting with the contractors and developers to discuss representing the workers. He said under an agreement signed with the Joint Industrial Council for the Building and Construction Industry, this can be accommodated.

"What we now want to do is to formalise representation for these workers," he said.

Mr. Morrison said the union is hoping to convene a meeting with the contractors this week before meeting with the workers again next week.

He said he also awaiting a response from the Ministry of Labour before going forward.

The Spanish investors, who in recent years have invested heavily in Jamaica's tourism product, are building the J$10 billion (US$150 million) hotel.

The construction site was temporarily closed on February 27 followinga massive protest by workers, after the police allegedly shot one of their colleagues.

The workers were disgruntled over what they said were poor working conditions. Several buildings were set ablaze and about 11 vehicles, reportedly belonging to the Fiesta Hotel, were damaged or destroyed.

dionne.rose@gleanerjm.com