NATIONAL WORKERS Union (NWU) official Norman DaCosta tried to frustrate the collective bargaining procedures between the NWU and Glencore Alumina Jamaica Limited (Windalco) late last month, according to the Jamaica Employers' Federation.
The union official insisted that several issues which were not related to the negotiations be included in the talks, the JEF said. These included the investigation into a fatality at Kirkvine, worker insurance and the sick-out incident in 2005. This occurred at a meeting at the company on February 28, held to continue wage negotiations to settle a new collective agreement which expired twenty-one months ago.
EXPOSED FIREARM
During the discussions, representatives from the company's team noticed that Mr. DaCosta's firearm was exposed and asked for a recess. The JEF stated that he refused, and is alleged to have pushed a filing cabinet behind the door, effectively blocking the exit, and then dared Mr. Glendon Johnson, the human resources manager to make a phone call or any members of the negotiating team to leave the room.
The JEF said Mr. DaCosta's behaviour was unacceptable and said the alleged exposure of a concealed weapon in that circumstance can be perceived as a treat.
The body said it is in support of removing Mr. DaCosta from the negotiations as the incident has eroded the trust and confidence of the Glencore Alumina Jamaica Limited in sitting at the bargaining table with him. It said that should these practices continue then there will be "serious implica-tions for work relations and (it) could be a deterrent for potential investments."
The JEF said, employers reserve the right to demand the removal of union officers assigned to their location to represent its workers where it has been established that the officers' conduct is unprofessional and poses a detriment to a harmonious industrial relations.
