Jamaica Labour Ministry intervenes in Carib Cement unrest

Jamaica's Ministry of Labour has intervened following industrial action by workers at Caribbean Cement Company over the company's wage offer, local media report. Ministry officials entered a meeting with union representatives after workers at the company’s Rockfort plant protested on Friday morning.

Workers believe that the offer of a three per cent increase in year one and four per cent increase in the second year is too low and are calling for a rise of no less than seven per cent.

Granville Valentine, National Workers Union General Secretary, argued that it would be a "fair and just position" for the company to, at least, allow its workers to maintain their standard of living or purchasing power by "look(ing) at what would it take to purchase the same goods and services now and equal(ling) it to the last two years."
      

Meanwhile, production at the Caribbean Cement plant in Kingston was suspended on Friday as a result of the strike. Sophia Lowe Pinnock, Caribbean Cement's Public Relations Officer, said the company has not been able to deliver supplies to its customers. She insisted that the company would seek to find a solution to the issue in the shortest possible time.  (Source: RJR News)