UAWU President Lambert Brown - file photo
The University and Allied Workers Union (UAWU) has written to the management of Noranda Jamaica Bauxite in St. Ann, requesting details on the impending lay offs.
More than 100 workers are expected to be sent home following the decision by Sherwin Alumina to close its Corpus Christi facility, in Texas in the United States. The company purchases alumina from Noranda.
UAWU President Lambert Brown is contending that the unions representing Noranda workers were not consulted on the plan to further reduce the workforce.
He told RJR News that previous discussions were general and included the company finding additional markets.
Mr. Brown has sought a meeting with the company to ascertain, what he said, is more specific information, such as "the number of workers that are likely to be affected, the areas from which they are going to be pulled (and) what contingency plan, if any, has the company contemplated to avoid redundancy...."
Earlier dispute
Meanwhile, the UAWU President said there has been no response from the Ministry of Labour regarding a request for it to intervene in another dispute between Noranda Bauxite and the union.
It concerns the laying-off of a group of workers in May.
According to Mr. Brown, Noranda should make a decision on the workers who are in limbo.
"My position in respect to the 22 persons who were laid off in May, is that the company should pay them off, especially those who want to go, rather than keep them there indefinitely," he asserted.
He said with the notice of other impending lay-offs from Noranda, it is unlikely that the group will be re-employed.
Sherwin Alumina
In the meantime, the management of US based Sherwin Alumina Company has shed light on its reasons to discontinue its operations.
On Monday, RJR News reported that Sherwin, which purchases alumina from Noranda Jamaica Bauxite, is to close its Texas facility.
Thomas Russell, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sherwin, said the company decided to close as a last option. He added that an orderly winding down of operations is the best available option for its stakeholders.
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