Sangster Airport workers end strike
THE approximately 150 unionised workers at the Sangster International Airport yesterday ended a strike started Wednesday, bringing back normality to the busy Montego Bay facility.
The work resumption followed an agreement reached between MBJ Airports Limited, operators of the airport, and the unions representing the workers at a meeting chaired by Labour Minister Pearnel Charles.
Charles flew down to Montego Bay yesterday to chair the meeting, after a top-level ministry team, which went down to the second city Wednesday, failed to get an agreement during talks that followed that night. Yesterday’s meeting lasted from about 10:00 am to 3:30 pm.
“It was a lengthy meeting, but I am happy that we ended with an agreement which included a ‘no victimisation clause’. I hope this means that we will have peace at the airport for, at least, the next two years,” the minister told the Observer.
The parties finally agreed on a wage contract for a 10 per cent increase in year one, and a further 10 per cent in year two of the two-year agreement. They were at 10 per cent in year one and eight per cent in year two, up to Wednesday when the workers struck.
The workers are represented by the Union of Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Personnel (UTASP), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
Yesterday, UTASP general secretary, St Patrice Ennis, said that although the strike was over, there were still some unfinished business to deal with.
“There are some other matters which are to be dealt with, post agreement, additionally the management has given their commitment to see how they can improve their relationship with the employees,” he said.
Workers, including administrators and clerical groups, ramp co-ordinators, firefighters and customer service representatives participated in the strike. Elizabeth Scotten, director of communications at the airport, said that the strike, however, did not seriously affect the operations as non-unionised workers were able to keep things going.