KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Petroleum Company of Jamaica (Petcom) has responded to assertions made by the National Workers Union (NWU) about labour related issues at the company and says that it will not be pressured into responding to “unfair demands.” 

NWU yesterday said workers at the Spanish Town Road office of Petcom are restive over several issues, including the suspension of one of their colleagues, who is a Seventh-day Adventist, because of his refusal to work on Saturdays.

NWU said it is flabbergasted that the staff member, who has been with the company for 26 years, has been suspended without pay since December 2017.

The union said the breaches have been referred to the Ministry of Labour for conciliation and it also intends to lobby the support of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, Jamaica Employer’s Federation and the Jamaica Union of Seventh-day Adventist.

However, Petcom in response today insisted that it has been engaging the trade union in “robust and purposeful discussion” in relation to labour issues. 

“Those discussions have never ceased, neither has there been any indication on the part of either Petcom or the NWU that negotiations between the parties have been discontinued,” the company stated.

Petcom added that there is presently a convened disciplinary hearing in respect to the specific matter of the suspended worker.

Petcom was also adamant that the company “will not be pressured to meet any unjustified, unfair, or avaricious demand of anyone by dint of the threat of industrial action”.