Windalco workers ordered to resume duties
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT) has ordered workers at the West Indies Alumina Company (
WINDALCO) in Ewarton, St Catherine to resume duties immediately following a two-day protest over non-payment of retroactive salaries.
IDT gave the order yesterday morning at a meeting with the Union of Clerical and Administration Supervisory Employees (UCASE), which represents the employees, and WINDALCO’s parent UC Rusal.
The tribunal also warned UCASE that continued industrial action is a breach of the Back to work Order that was issued last Thursday.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the IDT also informed that it could not deal with the disputes between the parties until normalcy is restored.
The union was also advised that the Order is to be complied with immediately, failing which the IDT will take the necessary action under Section 12 (9) of the Labour Relations and Industrial Disputes Act. The Section states that:
“Any person who fails to comply with any order or requirement of the Tribunal made pursuant to subsection (5), or with any other decision or any award of the Tribunal, shall be guilty of an offence and:
(a) in the case of an employer to whom that order, requirement, decision or award relates, shall be liable on summary conviction before a Resident Magistrate to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand dollars, and in the case of a continuing offence to a further fine not exceeding twenty thousand dollars for each day on which the offence continues after conviction;
(b) in the case of any other person to whom that order, requirement, decision or award relates, shall be liable on summary conviction before a Resident Magistrate to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand dollars, and in the case of continuing offence to a further fine not exceeding two thousand dollars for each day on which the offence continues after conviction.”
