KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Union of Clerical Administrative and Supervisory Employees (UCASE) says that along with The Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU), it has served a claim for bargaining rights on the management of China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC), contractors on the Highway 2000 May Pen to Williamsfield leg on behalf of the workers engaged on the construction project.

In a letter dated April 26, 2021, addressed to Dangran Bi, China Harbor’s country manager in Jamaica, the unions have informed the company that the workers on the project have mandated them to represent them on all matters pertaining to their wages and working conditions.

The unions informed China Harbour that they are seeking the company’s cooperation in recognising the unions under the Labour Relations and Industrial Dispute Act of 1975, either by consent or allow the Ministry of Labour and Social security to conduct a poll among the workers.

Since the commencement of the project, the workers have staged demonstrations complaining that the terms and conditions (wages and benefits) are less favourable than what they received when the first leg of Highway 2000 was constructed under the management of the French contractor, Bouygues, the UCASE said.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security was also copied on the letter, the unions said.