JUTC workers strike

Employees of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC, who have been on strike since this morning, have vowed to stay off the job until a meeting has been scheduled with unions representing them and the company’s management.



Vice president of the University and Allied Workers Union, Clifton Grant said although he has requested a meeting with JUTC’s management he has still not received confirmation.



Mr. Grant said he has also asked the labour and transport ministers to intervene.



He said all workers at the Rockfort and Spanish Town depots remain off the job, while only several buses operated by trainee drivers at the Portmore depot are in operation.



The workers have been restive since yesterday when news broke that more than 200 employees would be laid off today and a total of 500 are also to be laid off in coming weeks.



Mr. Grant is contending that the decision by the company to lay off the workers is not in keeping with good industrial relations practice.



Communications Director at the Transport Ministry, Reginald Allen, said while JUTC is in the process of arranging a meeting with the unions, one will not be held until some level of normality has returned to the bus depots.