Morrison

Some 850 permanent employees at West Indies Alumina Company (Windalco) are to work three days per week with a 40 per cent reduction in wages, effective April 1.

This follows an interim agreement signed between Windalco and the National Workers Union (NWU) on Tuesday. The interim agreement is to expire December 31, 2009.

But, according to the agreement, if there are no significant changes in the global aluminium market, the period of this interim contract shall be extended to a date subject to the agreement of both the company and the union.

The agreement further states that if the plant returns to normalcy, the agreement would immediately come to an end.

The alumina-producing company in February cut the positions of 250 temporary employees as it moved to suspend operations at its Kirkvine plant in Manchester and its Ewarton plant in St Catherine, in light of the declining global demand for alumina. The company, however, promised to retain its permanent employees.

Vincent Morrison, president of the NWU, told The Gleaner Wednesday that the parties also agreed to pursue skill-training for employees. "We believe that this is a good opportunity to ensure their training and certification," Morrison said.

"The parties further agree that given the prevailing circumstances, employees will be required to work outside their normal classifications, provided they are qualified to do so, and, where appropriate, the company will provide the necessary training and certification required," said the collective labour agreement of February, 2009.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Vacation leave for employees will remain as outlined in the collective labour agreement of February, 2009.

Employees will be granted a three-month moratorium on loan repayments. They have also been given a reduction in loan repayments of 65 per cent.

Employees will still be able to access loans but will have to pay the full monthly payments for any new loans.