Appleton Estate Ltd v Bustamante Industrial Trade Union
Jurisdiction | Jamaica |
Judge | Lynch, C. |
Judgment Date | 22 February 1978 |
Court | Industrial Dispute Tribunal (Jamaica) |
Docket Number | 42 of 1977 |
Date | 22 February 1978 |
Industrial Disputes Tribunal
Lynch, C.
42 of 1977
Labour law - Industrial disputes — Wage increases.
By letter dated 12th October, 1977, the honourable Minister of Labour, in accordance with section 11 of the Labour Relations and Industrial Disputes Act, 1975, referred to the tribunal for settlement a dispute between the company and the union.
The terms of reference are as follows:
“To determine and settle the dispute between Appleton Estate Limited on the one hand, and certain supervisory, clerical, technical and administrative staff employed by the company and represented by the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union on the other hand, over a claim served on the company by the union for wage increases and the duration of such increases having regard to the union's revised proposal and the company's offer.”
The division of the Tribunal selected in accordance with section 8(2) of the Act was
Mr. Basil Lynch -Chairman
Mr. Owen Plant — Employers' Representative
Mr. Dorrel White -Workers' Representative
The company was represented by–
Mr. Emil George, Q.C.
The union was represented by
Rt. Hon. Hugh Shearer
Submissions and Sittings
Written briefs were submitted by the parties and submissions made on the 2nd and 15th February 1978.
The dispute is in connection with a claim submitted to the company by the union, by letter dated 12th January 1976, for wage increases and the duration of such increases.
The existing weekly wage rates are set out below:–
Categories
Maximum
Minimum
Supervisors Grade 1
131
84
“Grade 11
108
96
Clerical Grade 1
108
96
Clerical Grade 11
92
35
Bench Chemists
72
46
Asst. Bench Chemists
45
38
Time Keepers
96
42
The union' s original claim was for an across-the-board increase of $40 per week and the establishment of an $80 per week minimum. This was revised at a later date to a 30% increase on existing rates or $20 per week, whichever is the higher with minimum weekly rates of:
-
(a) Supervisory $115
-
(b) Technical 95
-
(c) Time Keepers 90
-
(d) Clerical Grade 1 135
-
(e) Grade 11 70
However, at the meeting on 15th February 1978, the company reported to the tribunal that agreement had been reached for an across-the-board increase of $15.00 per week from 1st April 1976 to 30th June 1977 and a...
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