MONTEGO BAY, St James - The government moved swiftly yesterday to avert any further disruptions at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, after rumours surfaced that workers were planning a shutdown of the facility on the weekend.

"We heard rumours that workers were planning to shut down the airport on Saturday (today)," said Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles, after he met with employees and top officials of All Jamaica Air Services (AJAS), as well as airline representatives operating at the busy international airport.

He said 35 flights are expected today and that any disruptions would cause major delays at the airport.
On Monday, more than 100 of the 317 AJAS customer service agents, ramp attendants, cargo handlers and aircraft cleaners withdrew their services, resulting in major delays for passengers at the Sangster International Airport.

The workers were protesting what they claimed was 'unsatisfactory' representation from the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU), and said that they would be seeking a change to the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

Charles said yesterday that he was satisfied that there would be no disruptions at the airport today. "I have been given assurances by the staff and management of AJAS that they will be using the mechanisms available to them to settle the dispute," the minister told the Observer.

The government, he said, would not tolerate any disruptions at the airport that would inconvenience visitors or locals using the facility or cause any disruptions to the tourism industry.

He said he had not come yesterday to bully or read workers the 'riot act' and had made it clear that the ministry stood ready to intervene and settle the dispute.

"I have made available to them a 24-hour telephone line to deal with any disputes that may arise at the airport," said the minister.

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