KINGSTON, Jamaica, Aug. 27, CMC – The Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT) has ordered employees of the state-owned Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) to refrain from taking industrial action over a dispute involving salary deductions.
The dispute involves the JUTC and workers represented by the University and Allied Workers’ Union, who have expressed dissatisfaction over deductions related to alleged advance payments against arrears.
In an order handed down on Wednesday, the IDT directed all persons threatening industrial action not to proceed while the matter is before the tribunal. The order further stated that if any industrial action had already begun, it must cease immediately and normal operations must be restored and maintained.
The tribunal also ordered the JUTC to refrain from making any salary deductions relating to the alleged advance payments against arrears until the matter has been determined in accordance with the tribunal’s terms of reference.
No date was given for the hearing.
The dispute was referred to the IDT for settlement by the labour minister under the Labour Relations and Industrial Disputes Act, which empowers the tribunal to prevent industrial action or order its immediate cessation.
The IDT issued a similar order on Tuesday, directing medical consultants to refrain from industrial action amid a separate dispute with Ministry of Health officials over salary deductions.
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