No immediate cement shortage amid workers protest action
CARIB CEMENT says its customers will not face a shortage of its product as a result of the industrial action taken by workers after wage negotiations broke down yesterday, grinding production to a halt at its Rockfort plant.
The National Workers’ Union (NWU) is negotiating on behalf of the workers, who, the company says, failed to return to the bargaining table for further negotiations on the latest wage offer.
“We are currently in negotiations with the NWU, one of our unions representing workers, over a new collective labour agreement,” Corporate Communication and Public Relations Manager Sophia Lowe Pinnock told The Gleaner.
SEEKING QUICK RESOLUTION
With production stopped because of the strike, Lowe Pinnock noted that the company is seeking to return to full normalcy as quickly possible once an agreement has been reached or a back-to-work order has been given by the Ministry of Labour.
“We are aware of our importance to the country at this time and we are working to get back to normalcy as soon as possible through the approved channels,” she said.
“One day will not affect us, and seeing that it’s the weekend, it is also safe to say that two days out of production will not affect us. However, if the strike action carries over into a third or fourth day, then it will definitely affect our ability to supply the market,” Lowe Pinnock warned.
The protest action also put a stop to a steady stream of people who sought to purchase books from the Logos Hope book ship that is docked at the cement company pier.