By Erica James-King, Senior Staff Reporter 
WESTERN BUREAU:
WORK ON the US$60-million Phase 2 of the North Coast Highway Project which began in November last year is just under 15 per cent complete, and the construction exercise is on target and within budget.
In making the disclosure, the National Works Agency points out that Phase 2 of the highway, which covers some 91 kilometres from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios is being done in different segments, in order to make the work more manageable.
The stages or segments in which work is now taking place are: Martha Brae, Spring Hill, Coral Spring, Braco, Duncans and Rio Bueno.
"Work is progressing at a steady pace. The work done and completed so far has covered some 14.8 per cent of Phase 2 of the North Coast Highway," Stephen Shaw, Regional Communications Director for the Western Region of the National Works Agency told The Gleaner.
Mr. Shaw further outlined, "Work is taking place on the approach to the Bengal Bridge on the Trelawny/St. Ann Border, the Rio Bueno Bypass is being built, so is the Duncans Bypass and work is also ongoing on the Queen's Highway."
RECENT STRIKE
When quizzed as to whether the recent strike by construction workers on the highway has retarded the progress or timeline of the new thoroughfare under construction, the Regional Communications Director remarked, "I would not have got a report on the work stoppage, or how the work stoppage has affected the highway. So, I cannot comment on the matter at this moment."
The contractors on Segment 2 of the North Coast Highway Project have some 30 months in which to complete the project.
Just two weeks ago, the 350 employees on the project took one-week strike action to press home their demands for a 30 per cent increase in wages. The workers resumed normal duties, after they were promised a job reclassification exercise and a productivity incentive by the contractors Jose Cartellonie. Meanwhile, the unions and the representatives of Jose Cartellonie are soon to meet to fine tune arrangements for the worker incentive scheme and the reclassification exercise.
The Bustamante Industrial Trade Union and the National Workers Union which represent the employees said, "All indications are that a meeting, which should have been held with the management of the company and the unions this week, will not materialise. A day is to be set for a meeting next week, which is to look at the reclassification and productivity issue." On another matter affecting the construction workers... they are earning 10 per cent above the Joint Industrial Council (JIC) rates, but during the industrial action they insisted that since the highway is a special project, the contractor should pay them higher rates. The JIC rates are generally set by the unions and the Incorporated Masterbuilders Association of Jamaica.
A meeting at the Transport Ministry between the unions and the contracting firm on August 23, failed to arrive at a consensus about a wage increase for the employees. As a result of the impasse, Transport Minister Robert Pickersgill gave the disputing parties an undertaking that he would bring their concerns before Prime Minister PJ Patterson and Finance Minister Dr. Omar Davies.
The Transport Minister is to meet with the unions and the management of Jose Cartellonie at a date to be determined, to report on the response from the Prime Minister and Finance Minister.
In the meantime, Segment one of the North Coast Highway which covered 71.5 kilometres from Negril to Montego Bay, is to be officially opened tomorrow at 10 am. The opening ceremony will take place at Point in St. James and keynote speaker will be Prime Minister PJ Patterson. Final paving on the roadway of Phase one of the North Coast Highway finished 2 months ago-some 3 years behind schedule-with cost overruns of almost twice the original budget of US$25 million.
