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<span style="font-weight: bold">News Source: OTGNR - </span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"> Confirmed : Over 200 unionised t...ected (RJR)...</span>
The local petroleum retail sector could be hit by significant disruptions on Monday in the wake of a massive strike involving unionised tanker drivers.More than 200 drivers have parked their vehicles to protest against the failure of haulage contractors to abide by an agreement reached last year for a salary increase.The contractors were given until Sunday to respond to an ultimatum to start paying the 16% increase, which is due over a two year period.Patience of JobPresident of the National Workers' Union (NWU) Vincent Morrison, told our news centre only four of the more than 40 contractors have confirmed they will be increasing the drivers' salaries.Following an emergency meeting with the drivers on Sunday evening Mr. Morrison declared that they will remain off the job until the other contractors agree to pay up what is due to them. "We have been waiting from July 1, 2009, we have had several meetings with the haulage contractors, meetings at the local level, at the Ministry of Labour level, and we had the intervention of the Energy Minister James Robertson,""This morning I would like to believe that having exercised the patience of Job we have no further patience, all our patience has run out therefore the drivers will take industrial action effective this morning," Mr. Morrison said.Under the agreement which was reached with the petroleum haulage contractors, the drivers were granted an 8% increase in the first year, and 8% in the second year.Contractors unable to payIn the meantime, the Petroleum Haulage Contractors Association says most of its members are not able to pay the tanker drivers the agreed salary increase at this time.According to President-Designate of the Association, Clive Wiggan, several of the contractors are still awaiting word from petroleum marketing companies on when they will be granted a rate adjustment."And that's why they haven't said anything yet, they are still waiting. The marketing companies would have gone to the market with a tender and that will not close until February, so they are tied until that time. Other marketing companies are still in limbo looking at what they can do for the contractors, time must have run out for them unfortunately," Mr. Wiggan said.He says the members of the Association will be called to an emergency meeting on Monday morning to discuss the strike by tanker drivers.Consumers to feel the effect And the Jamaica Gasoline Retailers Association (JGRA) says the country could start feeling the effects of the strike later Monday.President of the Association, Trevor Heaven, explained there is adequate supply in the morning to meet demand but the situation could change if the drivers remain off the job for an extended period."The full effect impact I don't believe will be felt until Monday afternoon, into Tuesday and perhaps Wednesday, certainly by Wednesday we can expect significant depletion of existing stocks leading to possible closures of stations and so on I can only hope that good sense will prevail," Mr. Heaven said.MOL intervenes And the Ministry of Labour has summoned the disputing parties to an emergency meeting.It was hurriedly arranged on Sunday night after the tanker drivers voted to go on strike.Labour Minister Pearnel Charles says union officials and representatives of the haulage contractors are expected to attend."It has been brought to my attention that the tanker drivers intend to withdraw their service. We must remind the parties that they are handling an essential service and the ministry has machinery in place to have this matter settled," "We therefore request all parties to be at the Ministry of Labour four o'clock Monday evening and we are going to try and use every effort to have this matter settled," Mr. Charles said.
<span style="font-weight: bold"> Confirmed : Over 200 unionised t...ected (RJR)...</span>
The local petroleum retail sector could be hit by significant disruptions on Monday in the wake of a massive strike involving unionised tanker drivers.More than 200 drivers have parked their vehicles to protest against the failure of haulage contractors to abide by an agreement reached last year for a salary increase.The contractors were given until Sunday to respond to an ultimatum to start paying the 16% increase, which is due over a two year period.Patience of JobPresident of the National Workers' Union (NWU) Vincent Morrison, told our news centre only four of the more than 40 contractors have confirmed they will be increasing the drivers' salaries.Following an emergency meeting with the drivers on Sunday evening Mr. Morrison declared that they will remain off the job until the other contractors agree to pay up what is due to them. "We have been waiting from July 1, 2009, we have had several meetings with the haulage contractors, meetings at the local level, at the Ministry of Labour level, and we had the intervention of the Energy Minister James Robertson,""This morning I would like to believe that having exercised the patience of Job we have no further patience, all our patience has run out therefore the drivers will take industrial action effective this morning," Mr. Morrison said.Under the agreement which was reached with the petroleum haulage contractors, the drivers were granted an 8% increase in the first year, and 8% in the second year.Contractors unable to payIn the meantime, the Petroleum Haulage Contractors Association says most of its members are not able to pay the tanker drivers the agreed salary increase at this time.According to President-Designate of the Association, Clive Wiggan, several of the contractors are still awaiting word from petroleum marketing companies on when they will be granted a rate adjustment."And that's why they haven't said anything yet, they are still waiting. The marketing companies would have gone to the market with a tender and that will not close until February, so they are tied until that time. Other marketing companies are still in limbo looking at what they can do for the contractors, time must have run out for them unfortunately," Mr. Wiggan said.He says the members of the Association will be called to an emergency meeting on Monday morning to discuss the strike by tanker drivers.Consumers to feel the effect And the Jamaica Gasoline Retailers Association (JGRA) says the country could start feeling the effects of the strike later Monday.President of the Association, Trevor Heaven, explained there is adequate supply in the morning to meet demand but the situation could change if the drivers remain off the job for an extended period."The full effect impact I don't believe will be felt until Monday afternoon, into Tuesday and perhaps Wednesday, certainly by Wednesday we can expect significant depletion of existing stocks leading to possible closures of stations and so on I can only hope that good sense will prevail," Mr. Heaven said.MOL intervenes And the Ministry of Labour has summoned the disputing parties to an emergency meeting.It was hurriedly arranged on Sunday night after the tanker drivers voted to go on strike.Labour Minister Pearnel Charles says union officials and representatives of the haulage contractors are expected to attend."It has been brought to my attention that the tanker drivers intend to withdraw their service. We must remind the parties that they are handling an essential service and the ministry has machinery in place to have this matter settled," "We therefore request all parties to be at the Ministry of Labour four o'clock Monday evening and we are going to try and use every effort to have this matter settled," Mr. Charles said.