"Premature" - says UCASE on concerns regarding US sanctions and bauxite

One of  the unions representing the 600 workers employed to the Ewarton bauxite plant owned by Russian company, UC Rusal, has described as premature concerns raised by Opposition Spokesman on Mining Phillip Paulwell about their fate in light of  tough sanctions imposed by the United States  

UC Rusal was among 12 Russian companies and their principals who were sanctioned last week by the US Government over allegations of  Russian military interventions and cyber-attacks. 

Individuals, companies and governments around the world who do business with UC Rusal face the risk of being blacklisted by the United States.

Earlier this week,  Paulwell said Jamaica must brace itself for the worst in light of  the sanctions. 

The Union of  Clerical, Administrative and Supervisory Employees (UCASE) says Paulwell's concerns are unwarranted.

It's President, Vincent Morrison, last night told RJR News that the US sanctions will not affect Jamaica's bauxite exports.

“The US economy needs bauxite. The economy is growing and as a result that industry needs not only bauxite but aluminium. The president of the US understands that putting in certain sanctions could hurt the US economy. I don’t think the powers that be in the US will allow that to happen,” said President of  the Union of  Clerical, Administrative and Supervisory Employees, Vincent Morrison.

UC Rusal owns 93 per cent of  the WINDALCO alumina company in Jamaica, which operates the Ewarton Works and Kirkvine Alumina Refinery in Manchester.                                                                                                                

Morrison added that it is likely that UC Rusal will be able to withstand the US sanctions.

“We talking about UC Rusal  - financially they are a very strong company. We believe there are ways and means to resolve the issues created by the sanctions imposed by the US government,” he said.