IDT bars industrial action by Kingston Freeport Terminal workers

The Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT) has issued an order barring workers at Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited (KFTL) from engaging in industrial action amid an ongoing dispute.

The order, issued today, directs that any industrial action threatened in contemplation or furtherance of the dispute involving KFTL, the Port Supervisors' Union (PSU) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) must not take place.

It further states that any industrial action already under way must cease with immediate effect and that normalcy must be restored and maintained.

The dispute was referred to the IDT by the Minister of Labour and Social Security under Section 5(3) of the Labour Relations and Industrial Disputes Act.

In its order, the tribunal said it was satisfied that industrial action had been threatened in contemplation or furtherance of the dispute. It cited Section 12(5)(a) of the Act, which empowers it to prohibit such action or order that it cease immediately.

Earlier this month, scores of workers at the port walked off the job following an unfavourable meeting with management as they pressed for a change in union representation from the TUC to the PSU.

The workers alleged that the TUC had failed to adequately represent their interests in matters relating to salaries and other benefits. They also accused the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of sidelining their complaints.

At the time, Ricaado Ennis, a representative of the PSU, said KFTL employed approximately 1,325 workers, more than 800 of whom, he claimed, had expressed an interest in changing their union representation.

However, Ennis said their appeals had so far yielded no results.

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