Central Soya of Jamaica Ltd v National Workers Union

JurisdictionJamaica
JudgeLynch, C.,Plant, R.,Dixon, R.
Judgment Date04 November 1976
CourtIndustrial Dispute Tribunal (Jamaica)
Docket NumberIDT 39 of 1976
Date04 November 1976

Industrial Disputes Tribunal

Lynch, C.; Plant, R.; Dixon, R.

IDT 39 of 1976

Central Soya of Jamaica Limited
and
National Workers Union

Labour Law - Collective Agreement Wage Increases

REFERENCE:
1

By letter dated 30 th June, 1976, the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, under the provisions of section 11 of the Labour Relations and Industrial Disputes Act, 1975, referred to the Tribunal for settlement, an industrial dispute between the EMPLOYER and the TRADE UNION with the following terms of Reference:–

“to determine and settle the dispute between Central Soya of Jamaica Limited on the one hand and the unionized workers employed by the Company and represented by the National Workers Union on the other hand over the claim of the union for increase wages on behalf of the said workers.”

2

The division of the Tribunal selected in accordance with section 8(2) of the act to hear the dispute was –

Mr. Basil Lynch

Chairman

Mr. Owen Plant

Employers' Representative

Mr. Edward Dixon

Workers' Representative

3

The Employer was represented by –

Mr. Peter Mais (Legal)

Mr. Dave Mayo

4

The Trade Union was represented by –

Mr. H. O. Thompson

5

Four Worker/Delegates were also in attendance

SUBMISSIONS AND SITTINGS
6

Written briefs were submitted by the parties and oral submissions made at the two sittings held on the 23 rd and 30 th September, 1976.

HISTORY
7

The Company and the Union are parties to a Collective Labour Agreement which expires on the 14 th February, 1977 — the Union was however given the right under Clause 22 of the said agreement to re-open the contract on the 14 th of February, 1976, for the purpose of re-negotiating the existing straight time hourly rates.

8

The Union's claim is set out hereunder:

CATEGORY

EXISTING RATES

PROPOSED RATES

Maintenance Men Grade 1

$2.40 per hour

$4.10 per hour

Grade IIA

$2.10

$3.57

Grade IIB

$1.66

$2.82

Grade III

$1.50

$2.75

Senior Operators

$1.95

$3.32

Operators

$1.30

$3.10

Packer-Sewers

$1.43

$2.63

Unskilled Workers

$ 1.20

$ 2.25

Casual Workers

$ 1.00 per hour

$ 2.00

Office Helper

$30.00 per week

$51.00 per week

9

In so far as the Wage Guidelines are concerned, it was established that no increases in wages could be justified by comparing wage adjustments to the workers with movements in the consumer price index...

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