RUBiS, JGRA dispute continues, possible disruption tomorrow
KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association (JGRA) is maintaining that petroleum marketing company RUBiS has up to 5:00 pm tomorrow to respond favourably to its requests to represent RUBiS dealers in their contract negotiations with the company.
Immediate past president of the association, Leonard Green, who is leading the charge in the matter on behalf of the JGRA, told OBSERVER ONLINE this afternoon that since it issued a seven-day ultimatum to RUBiS last Wednesday, the marketing company had “recanted a little” on its position that it would not open its negotiations with its own retailers with the JGRA present as its arrangements with the dealers do not constitute a traditional employer/employee relationship.
Still the parties remain at a stalemate. “They have responded, but they have made some demands. We are not relenting until there is some kind of resolution. We are willing to listen and participate in any effort to avert a disruption (but) they have put us in a corner where there are limited the options,” he argued.
He stressed that the long-standing contractual issues are not confined to RUBiS, pointing out that the JGRA in its fight for fair and equitable contracts for its members had asked for the Petroleum Trade Reform Committee that was set up by former Minister Phillip Paulwell to look at the current contract arrangements between marketing companies and dealers, as part of its terms of reference.
Green noted however that the JGRA was still clueless as to the contents of the committee’s recommendations, but that the association had “good information”, that the issue of contracts was removed from those recommendations, for whatever reason, we don’t know”.
He said it was not therefore expected that the work of the committee would produce any significant results having to do with contracts. “We are back at square one almost. The fundamental issue we have is that RUBiS can’t deny any of its dealers to have JGRA representation in a negotiation regarding contracts,” he maintained.
Green said the JGRA intends to discuss RUBiS’s response at its management meeting tomorrow. “I don’t know that there is going to be a disruption (but) the situation has deteriorated yes. There have been many turns,” he remarked.
Meanwhile the JGRA past president said new energy minister Dr. Andrew Wheatley at his meeting with the association last Friday, had sought to get clarification and information on the issues between the marketing companies and the JGRA membership.
ALPHEA SAUNDERS