UAWU accuses JUTC of firing 9 workers on sick leave
THE Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) and the University and Allied Workers Union (UAWU) are to meet this morning with Ministry of Labour officials to avert the threat of strike at the state-owned bus company, after the union accused the company of terminating nine workers – drivers and conductors – while they were on sick leave.
However, UAWU first vice-president Clifton Grant said yesterday that he could not say what action the union would take if an amicable solution was not reached when the parties meet today.
Grant said some of the workers were presented with redundancy letters, while others did not receive their salaries yesterday.
In the meantime, Gwyneth Davidson, communications manager for the bus company, said the JUTC would be prepared to address the matter at this morning’s meeting.
“We will answer the question of the ministry. in the most complete way possible, and get guidance if we have not done procedures as they should,” she said.
Davidson, in the meantime, chided the union for circulating a letter which she said had caused ‘considerable anxiety for commuters’.
“I wish that our industrial bargaining partners would consider the welfare of the commuters before they take that action again,” she said.
She added that concerned commuters were calling to find out how the dispute was likely to affect bus service.
“That is really unfortunate because we do not have any indication on the ground that there is going to be any disturbance in the service,” she said.
Grant accused the JUTC of failure to follow procedures when it terminated the services of the workers, some of whom were on sick leave because of natural reasons and others who had been injured on the job.
“We met with the company last week where we inquired about the status of the employees and they said they have not terminated their services, only to discover yesterday that the employees have not been paid,” Grant said.
He said they have subsequently learnt that the JUTC made redundancy packages for these employees, which they have been advised not to accept.
“We are contending that the JUTC did not follow the procedures as required under the Redundancy and Payment Act,” Grant said.
He said the Act required that the company get a clear indicator from a medical certificate stating that the employee is unable to continue working with the company. If the company disagreed with the report, it had a right under the law to get its own medical opinion.
“And if there is conflict between the two medical reports, then the chief medical officer will be called in to adjudicate and the JUTC has not followed this procedure,” Grant insisted.