UNIONISED WORKERS at the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) started a work-to-rule yesterday which is expected to reduce the number of buses the company is able to keep on the roads.
JUTC managing director, Tore Larsson, said yesterday that the workers' action has reduced the number of buses operating on the roads. However, he said that the company could not afford to meet the union's demand for the effective date of a new reclassification of the workforce to be set prior to April this year.
"The fact is, the company is paying a substantial amount of money to cover adjustments of salaries...in my opinion, this time it (the retroactive pay) would simply kill the company," Mr. Larsson asserted.
As a result, he said he will not be yielding to the demands of the union. "At this stage the answer is no, we can't afford it," he said.
Clifton Grant, vice-president of the University and Allied Workers Union (UAWU) which represents the majority of the workers, said that his union is insisting that the effective date of the reclassification should be prior to April 1.
He said, however, that a meeting has been proposed for tomorrow which the union hopes will go ahead and will lead to a resolution of the matter. Some of the workers have threatened to intensify their action if the matter is not resolved by then.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Transport and Works issued a release yesterday stating that, "following the announcement of bus fare increases that took effect last Saturday (August 16), it has come to the attention of the Ministry that confusion exists regarding the application of the new rates by bus operators who have sub-licences from the Jamaica Urban Transit Company.
"It has been reported that some commuters are contending that the new rates apply only to who use JUTC or 'white' buses., The fact, however, is that the new bus fares are to be paid by all commuters who use the buses within the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR)."
Commuters using JUTC buses began paying more for the service on August 16.
Announcement of the hike in bus fares which range from 33 per cent to 50 per cent, was made on August 13 by Robert Pickersgill, Minister of Trans-port and Works, at his Pawsey Road office, New Kingston. The average increase was 45 per cent.
...Transport Minister \
appeals to workers
TRANSPORT MINISTER Robert Pickersgill last night said he has received the 'disturbing report' regarding the current state of industrial relations at the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC).
"I wish to make it clear from the outset that the established procedures for the resolution of grievances between trade unions and management should be fully exercised, and should not be in any way circumvented. We are an essential service, and our customers need to be able to rely on us." the Minister said in a release.
Minister Pickersgill appealed to the employees of the JUTC, to remember that the company exists to serve commuters. "Grievances may arise, but they should always be resolved on the basis of established procedures." the release said.
He explained that the Government is covering 37 per cent of the costs of running the company, while the new fares introduced earlier this month serve to cover the remaining 63 per cent.
"I remind the (workers) that they have a duty to protect their market share, and to remember that the market will not tolerate a vacuum. Additionally, actions that serve to disrupt commuters' activities mean that nobody wins." the Minister said.
