KINGSTON, Jamaica — A number of Jamaica Public Service (JPS) employees, who went on strike yesterday, have returned to work despite the absence of a wage settlement.
The Union of Clerical, Administrative and Supervisory Employees (UCASE), which represents the workers, this morning told OBSERVER ONLINE that there has been no resolution in the wage and fringe benefit negotiations and warns that other measures could be implemented if a solution is not presented soon.
The workers resumed work Tuesday night after the Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT) ordered them to end their strike.
General Secretary of UCASE, John Levy, said he expects that the matter will be treated with urgency and if not, “we are going to go down a path few people want to tread.”
Levy said he will be contacting the IDT about the steps going forward for the workers and declared that “he will not sit back and allow the matter to die while the workers continue to suffer”.
The JPS strike disrupted power supply in sections of Kingston and St Andrew and St Thomas.
JPS, on Twitter, said the industrial action followed a breakdown on Monday in wage and fringe benefit negotiations between the company and union.
The power company said discussions with UCASE would continue at the Industrial Dispute Tribunal (IDT) at a meeting scheduled for 9:30 am yesterday.
However, Levy said no meeting was held with the union yesterday and he is awaiting the IDT which has the authority to end such matters.
Kristal Campbell
