Fire Brigade workers back on job
ADMINISTRATIVE and other support staff of the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), who stayed off the job between Thursday afternoon and yesterday, have returned to their duties following discussions between their union and the management of the JFB.
The workers reportedly took industrial action over their wage and fringe benefits, according to the Jamaica Association of Local Government Officers (JALGO) staff delegate Jessica Owens.
Some of the employees were seen protesting near the JFB’s headquarters in downtown Kingston yesterday, although on Thursday the JFB had dismissed a report from JALGO that a strike was looming when the employees began calling in sick about 3:00 pm that day. Those who called in sick included drivers in Portland, St Thomas, Kingston and St Andrew, St Mary, St Catherine, Clarendon, Trelawny, Manchester, St Ann, and St Elizabeth.
Owens told the Jamaica Observer yesterday that approximately 50 employees across the service, including administrative staff, had taken action. She explained that the workers were up in arms over claims that had been submitted to management but which remain unresolved, including duty allowance and issues to do with health insurance policies. She said the civilian staff had also been advised that some people had been overpaid for overtime and were seeking clarification from management.
“They have not yet said that the money will be recovered; however, the fact that they are stating that we were overpaid needs to be addressed by management,” she stated. Owens also claimed that some workers have been transferred and others promoted without due process.
She said following a meeting between the union and management yesterday, the workers were advised that their employer would begin discussions to address the claims. Another meeting is scheduled with the Ministry of Labour for Tuesday.
Meanwhile, head of public relations at the JFB, Emilio Ebanks, confirmed that the employees had returned to work and stated that the operations of the service had not been negatively impacted by the industrial action. Ebanks had previously said he was not aware of a sick-out and that there was “nothing out of the ordinary” in relation to staff attendance at the various fire stations.
“With a situation like that, it would have obviously impacted our response, and nothing like that has been happening because we are able to respond to everything that we’re accustomed to at the moment,” he stated.
A release from JALGO on Thursday said the JFB had not settled payment of arrears to staff for the 2017/2018 fiscal period that were due in March 2018, neither call-out/emergency allowance for time worked over 20 days during periods of leave.
JALGO also said there were overlaps in pay scales since April 1, 2015 that had also been left hanging.
— Alphea Saunders