Seprod Group of Companies v Bustamante Industrial Trade Union
Jurisdiction | Jamaica |
Judge | Martin, C. |
Judgment Date | 07 December 1977 |
Court | Industrial Dispute Tribunal (Jamaica) |
Docket Number | No. 36 of 1977 |
Date | 07 December 1977 |
Industrial Disputes Tribunal
Martin, C.
No. 36 of 1977
Labour law - Industrial disputes — Wage increases.
Reference:
By letter dated 2nd September, 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 Seprod Group of Companies, and certain of its employees represented by the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union.
The Terms of Reference to the Tribunal were as follows:
“To determine and settle the dispute between the Seprod group of companies on the one hand, and the Clerical, Administrative and Technical Staff employed by the Companies and represented by the Bustamante Industrial Trade union on the other hand, over the claim served on the Companies by the Union for wage increases and the duration of such increases, having regard to the Union's revised proposal and the Companies' offer.”
By agreement between the parties, the terms of reference were amended to exclude from consideration the category “Administrative”.
The division of the Tribunal selected in accordance with Section 8(2) of the Act was–
Dr. John Martin
—
Chairman
Mr. J. Murray Harris
—
Employers' Representative
Mr. Edward Dixon
—
Workers' Representative
The Employer was represented by–
Mr. Emil George (legal)
Mr. Victor Harris
Mr. Vernon Grizzle
The Trade Union was represented by–
The Rt. Honourable Hugh Shearer
Several Workers/Delegates
Submissions and Sittings:
Written briefs were submitted by both parties at three sittings held on the 8th, 9 th and 11 th November, 1977.
Background to the Dispute:
The Company and the Union were parties to a Collective Labour Agreement covering the period 3rd March, 1975 to the 30th September, 1976, and by letter dated 28th September, 1976, the Union served a 24-point claim on the Company for improved wages and working conditions. At the local level and at meetings held at the Ministry of Labour, all claims except wages and the duration of the contract were agreed upon. The dispute relating to wage increases and the duration of such increases were then referred to the Industrial Disputes Tribunal for settlement.
At the hearings, the Union requested an increase of 40% on wages for a duration of eighteen months, effective...
To continue reading
Request your trial